Page 39: of Marine Technology Magazine (April 2020)

Kongsberg Develops

New LARS for

HUGIN AUVs

Kongsberg Maritime has developed a new LARS solution for its HUGIN

AUVs, which it says will bring “a series of far-reaching operational im- provements.” Kongsberg has decided to have the new LARS operating from midships, with the release and capture

Greensea of HUGIN marine robots occurring beneath the sea surface.

Greensea’s Ship Hull Crawler Tech “Launching and recovering AUVs un- derwater, away from the splash zone,

Launches with VideoRay Defender ROV lessens the possibility of their being

Greensea introduces a new hull crawler precision not possible with a small free- damaged, while midships deployment that attaches a Remotely Operated Vehicle fying ROV,” said Karl Lander, Greensea averts any likelihood of AUVs being (ROV) to a ship hull without magnetics, Program Manager. “Providing a stable run over by the launch vessel,” the allowing the operator to “drive” the ROV base platform for a camera, laser imaging company has explained.

and payloads over the hull. Initial hull scanner, or manipulator will greatly en-

Further, Kongsberg said that the new crawlers are designed to work exclusively hance accuracy, and ultimately safety, by

LARS’ subsea capabilities provide with the VideoRay Mission Specialist De- enabling small robotic systems to perform an extra beneft in that launch and fender ROV. The hull crawler represents work previously requiring a diver.” recovery processes can be carried out a milestone in Greensea’s hull robotics In 2019, Greensea was awarded a Phase in much higher sea states. This reduces program, which is advancing navigation 2 R&D program through the U.S. Navy to the risk of weather damage to marine and localization capabilities for a fully develop a highly accurate navigation and robots while boosting productivity to autonomous robotic hull inspection and autonomy solution for ship hull robots for deliver signifcant cost savings.

proactive in-water cleaning solution. the purposes of supporting autonomous

The design allows AUVs to be de-

VideoRay and Greensea expect early proactive in-water cleaning. This program ployed from a hangar or container, and adopters of the technology will use the will utilize several of Greensea’s core multiple robots may be managed from

Defender with the Greensea hull crawling navigation and autonomy technologies a single LARS. It is fexible with re- attachment for hull inspection, surveying, including their work with inertial navi- gards to placement – although midships non-destructive testing, and explosive gation systems in ferrous environments is optimal – and can be operated from ordnance disposal purposes. and feature-based localization. The hull anywhere onboard, including the stern. “The stability afforded by a crawler crawler technology will provide the deliv-

It may also be installed higher than on attached to a hull will enable inspection ery mechanism for the advanced software the main deck, to accommodate the and intervention tasks with a degree of being developed in the Phase II program.

vessel layout, Kongsberg says.

Kongsberg www.marinetechnologynews.com

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