Doing More With Less: Integrated Solutions Advance Observation Class ROVs

摘要

Technology advancements have enabled the industry to field increasingly powerful observation class ROVs. Incremental features and benefits provide an astounding array of possibilities. However, as features and benefits develop, so does the complexity of the system. Operators are challenged to do more with more. More sensors. More data. More tasks. Following the trend of other robotics industries, the subsea industry has focused technology on the development of an "intelligent" machine and has lost focus on the operator and their role in the overall man-machine system. The subsea industry needs a paradigm shift towards the operator and their relationship with the ROV to realize the full potential of the technology available. This paradigm shift will embrace higher levels of coordination and autonomy. It will prioritize systems and solutions over components and create streamlined workflow for the operators. This paper reflects on the current state of the subsea robotics industry as understood through the use of observation class ROVs and provides a roadmap for the future. We present a system for subsea robotics designed for usefulness. A system that places the operator at the center and harnesses "intelligence" to provide superior usability, ease, and productivity. Lastly, we provide details on the technical implementation of this system and several fielded examples.