Survey & inspection platform development

Following production and testing, it is expected to be available for energy and telecommunications customers towards the end of this summer.

The vehicle is a four wheel drive all-terrain crawler which acts as a platform for conventional survey sensors while also able to carry an ROV. With full independent suspension supporting each drive system, the crawler is designed to provide an optimum platform for sensors which can be used to track and survey both route corridors and fixed assets, including pipelines and cables. The onboard ROV will also be available for remote deployment for additional inspection of hazards, areas of particular interest or offshore installations which can be reached in a single journey from shores.

The complete assembly will be capable of working in currents stronger than 3 knots across all types of seabed terrain, from soft sands and subsea obstacles to bedrock and up to 40° slopes. Accurate positioning of the combined system is achieved via multiple technologies which ensure continuous navigation data is available, even in harsh inter-tidal zones.

OMM adds that the hybrid system will be very cost effective when compared with use of multiple coventional types employed for survey and inspection of key underwater assets.