Public Funding for Hydrosurv Unmanned Survey (UK) Ltd

Within the offshore Oil & Gas and Offshore Renewable Energy sectors, decommissioning is set to become a major sub-sector in its own right. The logistical and environmental challenges related to working in an offshore, subsea situation present technically complex, high-risk environments where technologies often under-perform, placing additional pressures on the budgets of inventory owners and the decommissioning securities of government. This challenge presents a market opportunity for the development of improved technologies and processes which offer reliable, repeatable and low-risk capability, whilst also realising cost reduction compared to today's practices. Marine consultancy firm, Safeguard Nautica conceived a unique concept to decommission piled foundations where the pile is cut below seabed level. A highly-innovative Deployment & Recovery System to place a tool on the seabed, and recover a pile to the surface without need for high-cost surface assets is to undergo development in a Proof of Concept study, co-funded by InnovateUK to demonstrate technical feasibility of the system.

Collaborators HydroSurv Unmanned Survey (UK) Ltd and University of Plymouth Marine Institute are bringing together an expert team to combine HydroSurv's robotic survey technology and rapid development capabilities with an internationally recognised academic expertise in marine science to develop a groundbreaking solution for subtidal survey of submerged aquatic vegetation, putting a new end-to-end solution into the hands of UK coastal practioners for natural capital assessment and monitoring. Driven by the well-publicised successes within their previous project for acoustic ground discrimination techniques for the monitoring of seagrass, the partnership will advance the accuracy of this novel technique bringing together a series of new datasets to assess the condition of benthic habitats and provide sediment characterisation alongside seagrass biomass estimation based on the validated needs of survey commissioners and data users within public, government and local authority organisations. Central to the new approach is use of rapidly-deployable HydroSurv Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) platforms with electric propulsion, combined with an advanced sensor array to collect a range of hydroacoustic and observational measurements from a ground truthing instrument array. The use of deep learning algorithms is expanded from characterising the coverage, density and canopy height of seagrass to carrying out sediment analysis, whilst collecting complementary environmental datasets geolocated to the primary datasets. The data delivery builds upon HydroSurv's enterprise-scale GIS cloud application to enable users to monitor temporal changes without specialist data interrogation skills. Staying true to HydroSurv's aim to democratise ocean data, the solution will slash the cost and carbon intensity of data collection relative to established survey techniques whilst removing personnel from harms way, and will be made flexibly and conveniently accessible to the market.

HydroSurv Unmanned Survey (UK) Ltd, (_HydroSurv_) is building upon the successes of its '_Robotics for a Safer World_' Demonstrator project by developing and showcasing a transformative environmental monitoring solution for the offshore renewable energy sector in collaboration with Sonardyne International Ltd - a world-leading underwater acoustic positioning, inertial navigation, subsea wireless communications and sonar technology systems company. By combining new Sonardyne seafloor and vessel-mounted instruments with HydroSurv's REAV-40 Unmanned Surface Vehicle, the project will show how the applicant's combined technologies can provide an end-to-end service for 'seabed data to desk' with unprecedented benefits to third-party stakeholder Vattenfall during a series of demonstrations at the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the resilience of deployed ocean-sensing instruments which enable continued data-flow with reduced hands-on human input which has never been more important than today to safeguard routine monitoring and survey capabilities - over the longer term, this approach will the reduce cost, risk, time and carbon footprint of actionable data.

SoAR is focused on delivering a fundamental shift in the use of marine robotics through the networking of heterogeneous fleets of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and uncrewed surface vehicles overseen by a fleet level autonomy engine capable of adaptive mission planning. The existing paradigm of a single high-power vehicle with expensive support vessel and large numbers of people is currently the preserve of a limited number of operators and does not scale easily to meet the emerging needs of the offshore wind sector. In particular end-users are looking for the most cost-effective means to observe the environment, respond to incidents, as well as monitoring both operational, decommissioned and wrecked structures. This dependence on large vehicles is driven by the payload and power requirements to support high-grade navigation instruments. The project's approach is to overcome this by developing enabling technology for the operation of heterogenous AUV/USV networks. This will be achieved through both the development of software, a new class of communications and navigational instrument, enabling open interface networking protocols. While these capabilities will be trialled and demonstrated on both NOC and ecoSUB AUVs, the objective is to deliver open interfacing, including ROS to enable implementation on a wide range of vehicles. Combined, these technologies will result in less expensive and more efficient operations, enabling better allocation of assets and sensors. This will promote cost-effective delivery of sustained observation, precision inspection and emergency response capabilities. Specifically, this will deliver vast performance improvements over current state-of-the-art, where an individual AUV makes decisions based on its own limited locally sourced data. This will also enable a step change in micro-AUV performance allowing them to operate with similar accuracy and standards of vehicles an order of magnitude of cost higher. The project includes a range of hardware, software and systems innovations culminating in a multi-vehicle demonstration of collaborative, autonomy-driven operation. Some of the hardware improvements, in particular the new small-scale hybrid navigator device design, will be developed and validated during the project for later deployment.

HydroSurv - an impact-driven innovator in Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) and marine geospatial cloud applications, is collaborating with Sonardyne International Ltd, Dynautics Ltd and Fischer Panda UK Ltd to develop an optimised hybridisation solution for remotely operated, uncrewed vessels. Combining innovations in human-assisted autonomous control of serial hybrid propulsion, mission planning and active platform efficiency measures, the consortium will develop and validate a solution for small USVs capable of delivering trusted multi-mission capability and long-endurance necessary to disrupt the deployment of large carbon-intensive ships in the offshore wind, ocean science and maritime security markets. Building upon each partner's existing experience and expertise, the project will deliver a USV platform which could cut carbon emissions by 97% compared to commercial vessels currently in-use in the UK supply chain performing similar work-scopes; and provides pathway to full zero-emission long-endurance capability. Deploying commercially available equipment with novel software and control algorithms, the focus of the project is to deliver a solution which can achieve certification to workboat code standards at rapid pace to minimise time to market. The system will undergo extensive and progressive testing at Smart Sound Plymouth, and will include long-endurance Sea Acceptance Testing within UK waters.

HydroSurv Unmanned Survey (UK) Ltd, (_HydroSurv_), an early-stage impact-focused designer, builder and operator of Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) is collaborating with the University of Plymouth to develop a new tightly-integrated robotic survey platform that features a new Acoustic Ground Discrimination System (AGDS) to put a transformative non-invasive, low-impact and economic monitoring solution for seagrass meadows in the hands of conservation bodies. Building upon the existing research performed by University of Plymouth, the project will develop an end-to-end solution from the sensor and embedded vehicle components to a cloud-based data-hosting solution optimised for seagrass mapping, providing an economic change comparison modelling between resurveys. The processing solution will involve developing and training new machine-learning algorithms to classify submerged aquatic vegetation. The project provides more than 43 days of on-water validation and testing, including technology demonstrations for review by key stakeholders Natural England (solution tester), South West Lakes Trust and the National Oceanography Centre. The solution is developed to provide a new technology and a new capability to respond to future needs to protect and restore our seagrass habitats around the globe, driving benefits such as blue carbon sequestration, protection of marine biodiversity and creating the conditions for security of fisheries and ocean food sources.

HydroSurv Unmanned Survey (UK) Ltd, (_HydroSurv_) is building upon the successes of its '_Robotics for a Safer World_' Demonstrator project by developing and showcasing a transformative environmental monitoring solution for the offshore renewable energy sector in collaboration with Sonardyne International Ltd - a world-leading underwater acoustic positioning, inertial navigation, subsea wireless communications and sonar technology systems company. By combining new Sonardyne seafloor and vessel-mounted instruments with HydroSurv's REAV-40 Unmanned Surface Vehicle, the project will show how the applicant's combined technologies can provide an end-to-end service for 'seabed data to desk' with unprecedented benefits to third-party stakeholder Vattenfall during a series of demonstrations at the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) in Aberdeen. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the resilience of deployed ocean-sensing instruments which enable continued data-flow with reduced hands-on human input which has never been more important than today to safeguard routine monitoring and survey capabilities - over the longer term, this approach will the reduce cost, risk, time and carbon footprint of actionable data.

HydroSurv Unmanned Survey (UK) Ltd, (_HydroSurv_) is developing _HydroSurv API_ - a groundbreaking Application Programme Interface and web-application connecting decentralised staff, our field-based survey teams and customers with our IP-enabled integrated robotic survey vessels in the cloud. As with other field-based service operators, HydroSurv's survey operations were disrupted by the necessary restrictions in working practices and travel uncertainties which have emerged in the wake of the pandemic - but with monitoring programme impacts continuing in parallel to the crisis, it remains crucial that we establish measures to safeguard routine programmes and survey capabilities. Deploying automated ocean-sensing instruments enables continued data-flow with reduced hands-on human input, but the role of cross-functional client / company teams in specifying, planning and data sharing and the infrastructure to support that with remote-working and reduced face-to-face contact has never been more important than during the COVID-19 pandemic. _HydroSurv API_ is a proprietary data architecture which will enable teams to work collaboratively in the cloud, sharing digital forms, documentation and viewing geospatial survey data; connected directly to HydroSurv's low-impact, economic Rapid Environmental Assessment Vessels - improving speed, quality and resilience of waterborne data acquisition. The project will deliver a working prototype / Minimum Viable Product validated through engagement with our customers and partners, and using Agile management techniques to develop, implement and test the new solution at pace

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Offshore wind turbines can become corroded by wave effects in the so called splash zone near the water surface. Visualising this damage is difficult due to the extreme environment. Currently, scheduling maintenance is based on rough approximations of structure lifetime rather than requirements, which is expensive. SeaWynd aims to provide a sensor payload to remotely survey this splash zone and provide high resolution datasets from which to detect any abnormal changes to the turbine structure. This would reduce operation and maintenance costs for managing offshore wind farms This project will involve both the development and hardening of the SeaWynd device with an evaluation of its performance during a sea-trial at an operational marine renewable energy site.

"The use of small, affordable Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) as remote sensing platforms for environmental surveys promises significant gains when compared to established techniques for charting shallow-water environments. High current velocities, unpredictable flow directions, turbidity and navigational hazards or obstructions can create a difficult operational environment for sensor platforms; and often a hazardous environment for surveyors. Safeguard Nautica has developed the micro-Rapid Environmental Assessment Vessel (mREAV) - a readily portable USV with an embedded dynamic positioning control system, mission planning system and redundant propulsion configuration with the intent of providing extended capabilities for hydrology and prospective users for whom waterborne site investigation in riverine, estuary and inland coastal environments is essential to their day-job. Phase 1 of the Demonstrator for Robotics & Artificial Intelligence (RAI) in Extreme & Challenging Environments, enabled the consortium to integrate the main mission planning and embedded control systems into the mREAV USV. The Phase 2 follow-on project will build upon this initial progress by delivering extensive testing of two fully integrated unmanned surface systems on real-world campaigns within a variety of still water, riverine, estuary and open-water environments using a range of hydro-acoustic, photogrammetry and user-defined sensor payloads. Close consultation with background partners from the user-community will ensure validated development feedback to optimise the platform iteratively during the two-year project. During Phase 1, consultation with the user community has revealed the value proposition and technical solution offered by mREAV for dynamic inland environments could have significant further applicability within high-energy wave and tidal work sites. In Phase 2, alongside continued development and testing of mREAV, a larger open-water variant with shared sub-systems will also be developed to operate in coastal / inshore environments. The REAV will complete two environmental survey campaigns at a UK tidal test site, providing a validated cost-reduction initiative for monitoring surveys aimed at the cost sensitive tidal energy sector, and other marine renewable energy applications within inshore waters. By operating the mREAV and REAV USVs together; the Phase 2 test plan will also demonstrate the extended capability of operating both USVs to provide relay / range extension through collaborative working at a special demonstration test in South West England. Collectively, the spread of operational testing delivered continuously during the project will provide continued development feedback, design improvement and validated demonstration of productivity improvements and reduced survey acquisition costs, in close cooperation with end-users."

"Marine innovation company Safeguard Nautica Ltd, in partnership with software development company Core Blue Ltd will undertake a 6-month feasibility study to explore and optimise the use of photogrammetry in the underwater environment to create synthetic environments based on the real-world with unprecedented photo-realistic detail. These outputs may be used with Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies to transform how people can interact with, and experience underwater environments such as coral reefs and marine archaeological sites. Working with a focus group of commissioners, production companies and diving businesses, the project will apply human-centred design to initial creative concepts to rapidly evolve state-of-the-art solutions for the audiences of tomorrow."

"Safeguard Nautica Ltd and Reygar Ltd have formed a collaborative partnership to develop a hydrographic survey mission planning and control system for an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV), specifically aimed at operation on challenging inland waterway environments, (such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and estuaries). The concept draws upon the partners existing experience in developing dynamic positioning systems, but addresses unique challenges associated with high-energy, turbid and shallow waterways, often in GPS denied environments and without clear line of sight to the vessel. One of the main aims of the project is to enable survey campaigns to be readily planned and executed under automated control under the watch of an operative, improving accuracy and reducing skill levels required to navigate remotely; but at a target price which can disrupt the market for manually operated remote controlled boats. This demonstrator could prove the concept for use in many other unmanned marine platforms; in particular in offshore renewable energy installations at tidal worksites, and offshore decommissioning of fixed structures."

Within the North Sea Oil & Gas sector, decommissioning of oil field inventory is set to become a major sub- sector in it's own right. The logistical and environmental challenges present a unique and discernable opportunity for the development of reliable, repeatable and cost effective techniques which have strong market potential regionally and globally for many years to come. To address these needs, a consortium led by marine consultants Safeguard Nautica Ltd, will perform a Technical Feasibility Study for a subsea cutting system optimised for piled foundation removal. The project is supported by an expert design engineering knowledge base from Plymouth Univeristy and will including experimental testing facilitated by specialist marine and offshore fabrication company, Exeter Fabrication Ltd.

With considerable growth of Offshore & Marine Renewable Energy along and progressive withdrawal of Offshore Oil & Gas infrastructure, decommissioning will become one of tomorrows most important marine industry topics. Subsea decommissioning is technically complex, the operating environment is challenging and technologies often underperform. As a consequence, the risk that decommissioning bonds are not sufficient to cover the cost of operations risks placing additional liabilities onto governments, and the site developers. The need for new technologies and solutions which are reliable, repeatable and low-risk whilst also reducing cost against the solutions of today has never been greater. Marine consultants, Safeguard Nautica have developed a novel concept for a device capable of cutting and recovering subsea piles which eliminates the need for expensive surface and submarine assets. In a Proof of Market study, funded by InnovateUK under the SMART competition, the company will perform early consultation activities with industry bodies and end-users focusing on taking the concept into a development phase with a sharp focus on affordability and value.

The benefits of embracing efficient, sustainable marine operations are becoming recognised, but for smaller marine service companies operating in the Small Commercial Vessel (SCV) sector there are real challenges to implementation of vessel efficiency improvement measures. In a sector characterised by small fleets of diverse vessels and smaller operators where it is less viable to assign resource to analyse efficiency, the ability to autonomously collect appropriate data and apply it effectively to deliver fuel, operations and maintenance cost savings has never been greater. To address this a consortium, led by Marine Contractor & Specialist Vessel Operator Keynvor MorLift Ltd will develop an affordable Vessel Performance Management System (VPMS) designed with the SCV sector in mind. A novel maintenance codification system introducing the benefits of Condition Based Maintenance (CBM)to small vessels and a user-friendly operating system will be developed by Safeguard Nautica Ltd, and an autonomous SCADA monitoring system will be developed by Specialist Engineers, Reygar Ltd. Once developed, the system will be demonstrated over a 12 month trials period.