Page 61: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2020)

New Products

Manipulators & Tools

Robotic vehicles working underwater enables both manual and automated iCon Inspections are only as good as their tools. MTR control, with the potential for full au-

The new iCon, with its sensor pack- takes a look here are recent develop- tonomy in the future.

age, could be decisive in an operator’s ments.

bid to get a life-extension project ap- Oceaneering proved. It can inspect for fatigue cracks

Saab Seaeye Oceaneering has developed a com- using alternating current ? eld mea-

What is reported to be the world’s pletely new concept for its Freedom surement. For the ? rst time, a degree ? rst seven-function all-electric work- vehicle. It has designed a tooling inter- of autonomous movement turned the class manipulator has been developed face that can either work inline of the iCon Deepwater Inspection Tool into a by Saab Seaeye. According to the vehicle, e.g. facing forward, or pointing splash zone tool able to effect repairs manufacturer, this breakthrough heralds down, by rotating it 90 degrees. All of below the waterline. It’s crack-? nding a signi? cant advance in underwater the “smarts” for operating the tooling, sensor — originally a handheld tool for robotic technology in the growing including the motors, are on the vehicle divers — is af? xed a probe carried by electric tooling and vehicle market. The so that the interchangeable tools (suites the robot, allowing it to trace subsea all-electric work-class seven-function of which can be kept, ready to use, sub- structures. Using machine vision and manipulator is designed to have equal sea) can be as simple and robust as pos- automated thrusts in six directions, power and more precision, delivering a sible. Designed for Freedom, the idea is the tool follows a weld right around a ‘more intelligent’ in comparison to the for the interface to be compatible with structure, staying just millimetres form hydraulic equivalent. Its control system the entire Oceaneering ROV ? eet.

item being studied. iCon Inspection Robot

OceanTech

Saab Seaeye Electric Manipulator

Saab Seaeye

Oceaneering Tooling Package

Oceaneering www.marinetechnologynews.com 61

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