Developed a few years ago through the collaborative effort of Eelume, Kongsberg Maritime, and Equinor, the snake-like robot called Eelume likes to live permanently underwater, being suitable for a variety of subsea applications. Now, the AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) landed its first commercial contract.
The snake robot is a modular vehicle suitable for subsea maintenance, repair, and inspection, great for use at oil and gas production facilities, pipelines, offshore wind farms, fish farms, to offer just a few examples. For instance, there is a growing demand for autonomous underwater robots in the offshore energy industry, as they can increase safety by being able to perform various tasks with minimal human intervention, allowing human personnel to stay on land.
Norway-based inspection and survey company Argeo AS is fully aware of what the Eelume has to offer and has recently signed a contract with its developer to use the snake robot for its underwater operations. According to Trond Crantz, the company’s CEO, the Eelume technology will help Argeo lower its carbon footprint, increase efficiency, and also reduce its costs related to inspection, light intervention, and monitoring of subsea assets and infrastructure. Approximately 90 percent of all these costs are currently related to the use of vessels and the snake robot could take over up to 70 percent of their activities.
This subsea resident is basically a robotic arm that can operate tools and can stay permanently underwater by being connected to a docking station on the sea bed. Its modular design allows it to be a versatile machine, with a multitude of module combinations being available, allowing it to form various types of vehicles, for various operations.
It can stretch its joints and become like a torpedo that can transit over long distances and its flexibility allows it to change its shape to be able to access even the most difficult, inapproachable spaces. The snake robot is equipped with sensors, a communication module, lights, and a camera.
Norway-based inspection and survey company Argeo AS is fully aware of what the Eelume has to offer and has recently signed a contract with its developer to use the snake robot for its underwater operations. According to Trond Crantz, the company’s CEO, the Eelume technology will help Argeo lower its carbon footprint, increase efficiency, and also reduce its costs related to inspection, light intervention, and monitoring of subsea assets and infrastructure. Approximately 90 percent of all these costs are currently related to the use of vessels and the snake robot could take over up to 70 percent of their activities.
This subsea resident is basically a robotic arm that can operate tools and can stay permanently underwater by being connected to a docking station on the sea bed. Its modular design allows it to be a versatile machine, with a multitude of module combinations being available, allowing it to form various types of vehicles, for various operations.
It can stretch its joints and become like a torpedo that can transit over long distances and its flexibility allows it to change its shape to be able to access even the most difficult, inapproachable spaces. The snake robot is equipped with sensors, a communication module, lights, and a camera.