The transition to wind power is crucial for achieving net zero emissions, with the potential to reduce carbon emissions from energy production by over 99%. However, wind turbines require maintenance, which generates 10% of total emissions from offshore wind. To reduce these emissions, a team of researchers is working on developing subsea robots that can perform maintenance tasks efficiently and safely.
The “UNITE” project is developing robots that can be guided remotely from an autonomous vessel on the surface, but current technology is limited by the “chicken head problem” – the difficulty of keeping a robot’s arm steady against a structure buffeted by currents and waves. Advanced control systems and machine learning algorithms are needed to solve this challenge.
Another challenge is the lack of a perception system that can handle the limited visibility under the sea. The AWARE project is working on a sensing and navigation system that fuses forward-looking sonar data with a SLAM system to generate all-weather 3D maps. This will enable real-time models of the environment and plan inspection and repair missions while maintaining safety.
Using robots also has the advantage of keeping humans out of harsh and dangerous environments, with robots sending data back to operators on shore. The HUME project is developing a coherent framework for human-robot interaction, enabling humans and machines to work seamlessly together to collect and interpret data.
If successful, these technologies could transform offshore wind maintenance, potentially reducing fuel consumption by up to 97% – from 7,000 litres per day to just 200 litres. This could have a significant impact on reducing emissions and achieving net zero goals.