Together with The Rich North Sea, Lobster Robotics successfully completed a pilot project in Gemini Windpark. The objective was to test innovative new monitoring methods for nature enhancement solutions. The pilot shows that vessel costs can be decreased by using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).
High-resolution maps of the seafloor
Traditional monitoring methods can be expensive and complex, often taking up to 90% of the project's budget and requiring large, costly ships. This is why we explored the use of the Lobster Scout 2: an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), which can be deployed from a small vessel, like a Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV). This AUV creates high-resolution, geo-referenced optical maps of the seafloor, enabling efficient inspection of the seabed or underwater structures. While the Scout 2 operates autonomously, the CTV can focus on other tasks, optimizing operations.
The Lobster Scout 2 in Gemini Windpark
Innovative solutions for environmental monitoring in offshore wind farms
Our main goal was to validate operations of the Scout 2 from a CTV, to create high resolution seabed maps while eliminating vessel costs. This was successfully achieved. During the pilot, we learned that the launch and recovery process is efficient, taking only 10 minutes. In the future, the operation can be combined with regular turbine inspections, enabling frequent, high-quality monitoring without extra vessel costs. This innovation is promising for the future of environmental monitoring in offshore wind farms.
The Rich North Sea and Lobster Robotics will continue to work in this partnership on innovative solutions for monitoring purposes. Next steps to be announced soon!
