Page 55: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (May 2023)

TECH FEATURE ARMACH ROBOTIC HULL CLEANING be removed with one ? nger if caught early enough, but if left power demands on the ? y, using it along with an array of other to the weed stage or beyond, removal becomes a real slog. data, so that the vehicle ‘knows’ when it is cleaning an already

Armach is currently working on a Launch and Recovery relatively clean area, so it can move faster, with less pressure.

System (LARS) for completely autonomous deployment in When the HSR reaches a more heavily fouled area, it exerts the future. This next step in the technology evolution will more pressure, and takes a little more time, just like an intel- take even more people out of the loop, and make the systems ligent human operator would. This agility and scalability is a even more autonomous. This autonomy is the key difference clear bene? t for the Armach EverClean approach. in what sets Armach’s system apart, by harnessing the powers Karl Lander was happy to share some valuable ? ndings of autonomy and sensor control, to offer always clean hulls at from early adopters of the program. “One very forward-think- scale commercially. ing company, when it comes to decarbonization and ESG as-

Armach has already successfully demonstrated over-the- pects, was running partially fouled hulls leading up to their horizon operation when an Armach Hull Service Robot scheduled dry dockings. This isn’t a big revelation, as it is (HSR), deployed in the water in Norfolk, VA, was monitored widely accepted in the shipping industry as an undesirable, and controlled by staff at a command center in Plymouth, but largely unavoidable, cost of operation. For this operator,

MA, using standoff command and control solution SAFE C2 however, performance monitoring had put a number on this, from Greensea Systems who has enormous experience, and and as many operators are ? nding out, the actual number is an enviable worldwide reputation for providing the very best much larger than the past estimates ever were. Cruise ship intelligent control systems for underwater robots, indeed, turnarounds are famously tight. Thanks to the HSR’s intelli- this is how Armach came into being. Greensea was con? dent gent navigation, the robot ‘knows’ the fastest way around each that its OPENSEA vehicle agnostic, open architecture con- hull, and tweaks its route intelligently, according to what it trol software would fuse their proprietary hull navigation so- encountered last visit, meaning tight deadlines are achievable lution from the HSR’s myriad sensors, providing rock-solid with just 2 HSRs working as a team.” vehicle control. However, Armach is not just about hardware, as Karl Land-

The Armach HSR is undoubtedly a clever machine. It uses er sums up: “In terms of the HSR itself, the hardware is fairly six thrusters and a central vortex generator to obtain its vari- straightforward. The success is the combination of hardware able pressure on the hull to optimize performance from its ? ve with proprietary software. Armach is the culmination of years’ brushes. This has a number of bene? ts over rival systems, not of navigation, autonomy, and communication software devel- least that its non-reliance on magnets means it’s equally us- opment merged with hardware to create a service that meets able on steel, GRP, or aluminium hulls. HSRs measure brush the future needs of vessel owners now.” www.marinelink.com 55

MR #5 (50-60).indd 55 5/4/2023 8:55:39 AM