Page 24: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Jul/Aug 2020)

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ROBOTICS

Alex Loudon, the UK’s Offshore

Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult “Everything is linear, there’s no wind, waves or currents to get in the way. It’s so much easier to implement automation. When you think about offshore wind, it’s a different beast entirely, because of the operating environment.”

Source: ORCA Hub analytics ?rm Cognite are set to test Spot, a Boston Dynamics an in-situ cleaning and inspection system prototype due to quadruped, offshore on the Skarv FPSO. Spot, which has been tested on a site on land in 2021. Equinor is also working with equipped with a precision acoustic sensor to identify noncon- Total on the Taurob robot.

formities in offshore machinery, has been risk-assessed and ap-

Doing the dull & dirty work proved for offshore use in non-classi?ed areas, says Cognite.

In the trials, Cognite staff will test the interface between vari- Similar capability is being worked on in the UK. Quantum ous offshore operational systems and its Cognite Data Fusion Leap Technology (QL Tech) is developing a robot to perform platform, to test and verify how the robot can perform remote fabric maintenance, i.e. to detect a rusty surface and then pre- inspections supported by onshore personnel, for the likes of pare it by bristle blasting before applying a coating – a task routine inspections, reducing travel, HSE risk and operational that otherwise costs a typical UK offshore platform about £5- ability to detect anomalous situations, says Cognite. 10 million a year, according to the OGTC.

Since 2017, Equinor has been using System T, from Sur- Fabric inspection and maintenance is also a big challenge face Dynamics; a portable robotic surface treatment system in offshore wind. There are already several systems being de- for sand or hydro-blasting ballast and other tanks. It’s set to veloped for speci?c tasks, with ORE Catapult support. Inno- test a treatment and painting system (System P) from the TecUK’s iFROG, for example, is an amphibious non-destruc- same company in full-scale trials later this year. Equinor is tive testing inspection robot climbing an internal and external also trailing HXCI (Heat Exchanger Cleaning & Inspection), monopile foundations, to help inspect welds and corrosion 24 OFFSHORE ENGINEER OEDIGITAL.COM