Maritime Robotics

MARITIME ROBOTICS

THE EXPERTS ENABLING OCEAN SPACE AUTONOMY Powered by Inside Marine

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MARITIME ROBOTICS

130 Inside marine

I PROFILE

Initially set up in 2005, Maritime Robotics has revolutionised the marine industry with first-class uncrewed surface vehicles that are safer, more efficient and promote sustainability when compared to traditional boats.

Founder & Managing Director Vegard Evjen Hovstein attended an exclusive interview with Inside Marine’s Imogen Ward to discuss the latest in ocean space autonomy.

AT

the heart of Maritime Robotics

development of marine autonomy. The

is a desire to keep seafarers

company has achieved this by commit-

safe. Every innovative solution

ting to a strong vision of enabling ocean

manufactured by the company is created with that priority in mind.

space autonomy.

“Enabling is the element that we are most

“Safety is number one,” said Founder &

proud of,” Mr Hovstein explained. “We have

Managing Director Vegard Evjen Hovstein:

a global reputation as enablers because

“Our uncrewed surface vehicles have two

no matter what, we make it work. We have

main purposes. Firstly, they are able to

a clear-cut understanding of the environ-

improve the safety for personnel by

ment within which our products are

removing them from dangerous situations.

working; this has allowed us to develop

And secondly, they can aid crewed

technology which can operate above, on

operations with autonomous support,

and beneath the water’s surface. This is

to make room for safer decision making.”

our ocean space. Finally, we remain

Since its inception 18 years ago, Maritime Robotics has been leading the

amongst the top performing companies within maritime autonomy.”

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NORBIT NORBIT develops and manufactures easyto-integrate wideband sonar systems for the hydrographic, security, energy and dredging markets, pioneering integrated ultra-high resolution multibeam systems.

NORBIT offers two main sonar products: the WINGHEAD series provides ultra-high-resolution bathymetry with 0.5deg beams, while the WBMS series offers 0.9deg beams.

Both series are based on a state-of-the-art analogue and digital platform featuring powerful signal processing capabilities, stabilised bathymetry and several imagery and backscatter outputs, ensuring the highest quality survey data performance. editorial mention

132 Inside marine

MARITIME ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

The neXt generation of Otter

will provide it with greater flexibility for

Amongst Maritime Robotics’ hugely

tool carrying.

successful portfolio of USVs is the best-

“The Otter X is our first product designed

selling Otter, renowned for its expertise at

to be a robot helping robots,” said

data acquisition within sheltered waters.

Mr Hovstein. “It is a surface vessel that is

Currently the smallest product in Maritime

capable of carrying an underwater robot

Robotics’ offering, this two-metre vessel

to any given location for the aid of other

is about to undergo a revamp.

vessels completing underwater tasks. The

Having equipped the original Otter

Otter X has a sailing endurance far

with the software needed to complete

greater than an underwater robotics

small-time marine surveys, the company

system, so it is a real gamechanger.”

is now developing the Otter X. Two metres

Currently in its final stages of production,

longer than its predecessor, the Otter

Maritime Robotics anticipates the release

X’s size and multi-purpose capabilities

of Otter X later this year.

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With such an exciting announcement,

standardised core technology,

Maritime Robotics has a sure confidence

whilst also maintaining our custom

in the success of the X edition, having

engineering capabilities.”

previously released the Mariner X: a multi-purpose USV capable of both

A cleaner, greener ocean space

offshore and coastal applications. Built from

A secondary competitive advantage

polyethylene, the vessel is extremely stable

comes in the form of the company’s

and low maintenance. An added bonus

integrated technology. Using SeaSight

of this USV is its extreme customisability:

(a situational awareness and collision

the spacious back-deck is ideal for cargo

avoidance system), Maritime Robotics’

transportation, satellite communications

vehicles can successfully navigate the

and even towing.

open waters, avoiding any potential

Customisation is a huge element of the

hazards that would interrupt operations.

Maritime Robotics’ customer-focused

The system relies on a collection of

approach. Every vehicle within the

low-light, high-definition cameras that

company’s production portfolio can

create an enhanced singular image for

be customised on request.

operators. With real-time video streaming

“Whatever our customers ask for,

and 180-degree panoramas, the SeaSight

they get,” said Mr Hovstein “Customisation

system provides visuals that are reflec-

has definitely been one of our biggest

tive of in-person views.

strengths and a huge competitive

Thanks to its advanced R&D, Maritime

advantage within the market. Looking

Robotics is not limited to the waters.

to the future, we plan to develop more

With the company’s OceanEye Balloon,

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MARITIME ROBOTICS

I PROFILE

customers have access to 24/7 aerial

“Recently, we completed a project for

surveillance. As a moored system, the

a customer within the marine mapping

balloon can operate from fixed locations

segment – replacing a large, crewed vessel

or moving vessels, via its deployable

with our Mariner X. That particular USV still

base unit. Due to its fixed nature, the

uses a conventional combustion engine,

system is also more reliable than

but because of its significant size and

traditional aviation alternatives.

weight reduction; as a result, that customer

Maritime Robotics has also dipped its toe

had an emissions reduction of 95 per cent.”

into the world of drones, having developed the Uncrewed Aircraft System, Falk. With

Offshore operating for Ørsted

beyond-line-of-sight-operations, Iridium

Always ready to push the boundaries

satellite communications and the capacity

of ocean autonomy, Maritime Robotics

to run in sub-zero conditions, this drone is

recently collaborated on a very exciting

perfect for more isolated expeditions.

project with Ørsted (a world-leading

According to Mr Hovstein, when it comes

developer of offshore wind farms). The

to sustainability, the Maritime Robotics’

Ørsted project saw Maritime Robotics

systems have a lot of potential: “Autonomy

enter into an entirely new sector, creating

is certainly an enabler for improved

a world-first within offshore metocean

sustainability. They’re smaller vessels which

measurement. Using Maritime Robotics’

are more cost- and energy-efficient, and

USV control system, the prototype USV is

that can really help to improve the carbon

designed to operate long-term in extreme

footprint of our customers.

offshore conditions, collecting a variety

138 Inside marine

of data that will help in the initial develop-

35%, the company has been incredibly

ment of new wind farms.

successful thus far. As it travels along this

“We have been working on the Ørsted

path of progression, the company intends

product for around three years,” Mr

to continue innovating and revolutionising

Hovstein said. “The company utilised

the world of maritime autonomy.

our autonomous navigation system

“I see a lot of potential in our autonomous

within its USV design, and we see a lot of

navigation systems. If we continue to

promise in this product. It is definitely a con-

focus on those, then I am confident that

cept that has huge scalability and potential:

we will remain an industry leader,”

it really was a pleasure to work on a project

Mr Hovstein concluded. “We intend to do

with such capacity for change.”

that on an international level, expanding

In an industry that is growing 20%

our presence within the global market.

annually, Maritime Robotics is in the

We are ocean space enablers of autonomy.

prime position for continued expansion.

That is what we are known for, and that is

Currently achieving a yearly growth of

what we will continue to do.”

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