The company adds that its techniques demonstrate greater flexibility and significant cost savings over current inspection technologies, since AUVs can be operated without a need for umbilical connections to dedicated surface support vessels. Moreover, two man versions can be launched by two personnel without any requirement for specialist cranes or lifting equipment.

The AutoTracker module is capable of accurately tracking a single pipeline amongst multiple assemblies in various terrains. It additionally incorporates advanced search routines that also enable it to recover buried pipeline tracks.

Variants of the system have previously been used on larger AUVs to inspect subsea pipelines running from Sullom Voe to the Clair and Magnus fields, with SeeByte officials claiming that they are able to provide high quality data for a fraction of the cost of ROV operations.