Forssea Robotics delivers custom ROV crane system for international client.
Forssea Robotics have collaborated with local marine suppliers to deliver its first CRANE SKID to support the IRM campaign of one of its international client. System will be deployed from light opportunity vessels such as PSV or directly from topside for jacket inspection.
NAV CAM® is an all-in-one ROV / AUV visual based navigation and control center. NAV CAM features an embedded GPU, integrated pressure sensor and Inertial Navigation System. The V-LOC software is supplied as standard. Image treatments are processed in real-time using the dedicated software to achieve highly accurate positioning. NAV CAM is fully compatible to be used with external survey grade gyro sensors.
What a summer. Our engineering teams have delivered several vision projects (target identification in ATEX environments, underwater structure tracking, AUV / USV docking...) and have been awarded with the ISO 9001 quality management certification last April.
Last June, Forssea Robotics completed a scientific coastal survey offshore Brest, France. IFREMER hyperspectral camera system was used in combination with Forssea OBSCAM and mounted on our ARGOS ROV to study micro-bio organisms in various seabed shallow-water environments.
Following recent IFREMER investment in Forssea’s capital, this operation is a wonderful example of the industrial collaboration between the research centre and the innovative company. Parties have recently joined forces to create a visual navigation taskforce to pursue Forssea’s roadmap towards smarter and remotely supervised operations.
From 0 to 1. Back in 2016, we believed our industries shall evolve toward smaller vessels and smarter operations. We wanted to be part of this change bringing new subsea robotics solutions to the operators.
From our first ATOLL offshore trial up to ARGOS smart ROV commercialisation this year, we have always pushed to cut down operating costs in the offshore energy markets.
We enter this new era with tremendous ambitions, strong commercial perspective, outstanding R&D team and partners and a massively growing offshore renewable markets making some exciting playground for technology.
Forssea have supplied several V-LOC® systems to assist underwater construction operations and platform installation offshore Malaysia.
HGIS is currently engaged in construction installation work that includes surveying and ROV operations. They are utilizing RPOS software and the Forssea's V-LOC® system to accomplish this.
According to HGIS: "RPOS allows to reduce manpower by having an onshore Command Center to support offshore operations, which is paired with V-LOC to provide augmented reality for subsea positioning, further reducing manpower with faster turnaround time. This project has a very narrow tolerance. However, we are able to monitor and achieve the subsea structure installation tolerance with the system that we use."
Forssea and DeepOcean have worked closely to develop the Autonomous Inspection Drone (AID). Last Aug.2021, we successfully tested the AID on subsea templates at AkerBP’s Skarv field, 210 Km west of the Norwegian coast in water depths of approximately 400m.
The AID comprises the most advanced subsea positioning & navigation systems available in the market. However, it is the embedded software developed by Forssea that brings the most disruptive smart features that transform this standard ROV into a fully Autonomous Subsea Drone: dynamic positioning, auto-docking, path-following, and object-tracking modes. First, an inspection path was pre-programmed using DeepOcean’s 3D Mission Planner.
During this trial, we could successfully manage the inspection missions remotely with the AID being fully controlled from DeepOcean’s Remote Operations Center (ROC) in Killingøy (Haugesund), which is more than 1200 Km far from the Skarv field!
The capability of accurately repeating an inspection path over a subsea structure with the AID brings many benefits: structural conditions can be better compared periodically regarding asset integrity management; tasks can be performed more efficiently with simultaneous work during subsea operations (thus reducing the number of days required for executing offshore operations and also reducing costs of interventions); operational risks for offshore personnel can be minimized due to remote control from onshore centers; etc.
Vallourec, a world leader in premium tubular solutions, is working with Forssea, a startup specializing in smart robotics and visual positioning, and iXblue, a company recognized for its expertise in inertial navigation, subsea positioning and autonomous technologies – to develop a pipeline inspection solution combining subsea drones and the use of visual markers, removing the need for surface vessels.
“This technology had already proven itself on large structures in the field”, said Jean-Guillaume Besse, Vallourec R&D project leader. “Back in January of this year, we did a first sea trial on much smaller surfaces in the South of France. The tests were a success, proving that these markers, combined with iXblue’s and Forssea’s expertise, can be used to provide accurate subsea positioning without the need of acoustic systems”.
The advanced solution is a key milestone for future pipeline inspection and could be considered as a next step in the Vallourec smart offering, further facilitating operators’ asset management.
In June 2021, Forssea completed the underwater survey of FLOATGEN, a floating wind turbine anchored 12nm offshore from Le Croisic coast, in Pays de la Loire, France, on the SEM-REV sea test site operated by the École Centrale de Nantes (ECN).
For this operation, Forssea developed a dedicated survey skid for the Argos ROV and established a partnership with Sulmara Subsea, an international survey services contractor who was responsible for supplying the survey and positioning services during the Argos ROV operation.
Auguste Bourgois developed new algorithms based on set-membership methods allowing to prove the feasibility of a mission prior to its launch. These algorithms also have direct applications in visual-inertial navigation systems, increasing their reliability while improving autonomous decision-making processes
The research side of Jaouad Hajjami's thesis was to design, study and implement a set of algorithms to solve problems related to the detection of markers in the underwater world. In his research, Jaouad focused on improving the visibility and accuracy of marker detection by offering innovative solutions with better results compared to the state of the art.
NAV CAM AIR can now be interfaced to vessel Dynamic Positioning (DP) console thanks to standardized output message.
NAV CAM AIR is an all-in-one surface based visual inclination and positioning centre which has been initially designed for the in-air monitoring of monopiles and topside structures. Forssea’s proprietary V-LOC® software is supplied as standard and all image treatments are processed in real-time using the dedicated software to achieve highly accurate positioning!
Forssea recently opened a new warehouse in Sète harbor, France, future maintenance base for France mediterranean offshore wind farms. 6 engineers and technicians will be working in the new office, where an ROV remote control room is being prepared for upcoming surveys. Forssea also installed an 8m long x 3m deep test tank to perform its underwater systems acceptance test prior deployment in operations. An area will be dedicated to Forssea's underwater vision systems manufacturing and maintenance. Last October, Forssea organized an open day and welcomed several local marine players for complete system presentation.
Forssea announces that Ifremer — the French National Institute for Ocean Science — recently acquired an equity interest in the company. This will allow Forssea to accelerate diversification in the sectors of marine renewable energy and of deepsea scientific exploration.
Since its creation in 2016, Forssea has developed smart ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) equipped with visual positioning sensors. Their proprietary ROV systems have recently reached final qualification with Oil & Gas offshore operators and contractors.
Ifremer anticipates these systems will have promising applications in the context of marine renewable energy and of oceanographic campaigns, especially when interacting with existing of future scientific deepwater observatories.
Parties are already discussing deployment of Forssea systems during the upcoming Ifremer scientific campaigns. Ifremer and Forssea will also continue and expand upon their collaboration in the field of resident robotics, long immersion cycles, and advanced imaging capabilities (including artificial intelligence and 3D photogrammetry).
Forssea is pleased to announce that Shannon Giagnorio and Sottomarine Business Development Solutions has been appointed Sales Representant for the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) area, based in Houston.
Shannon is an experienced Oil & Gas and subsea professional with background within several international companies, including Forum Energy, MacArtney and Chevron Venture Capital Start-ups. She spent the last 3 years representing European and American companies so they could reach the oceanographic and offshore community in the Gulf of Mexico region.
Through Sottomarine BDS Shannon will be promoting Forssea’s new visual positioning systems and generating robotics service partnerships with the relevant operators.
“I am very proud to work with such an experienced and respected agent. After 4 R&D years, Forssea is starting a new phase with great commercial ambitions. The Gulf is a key area where we need a permanent presence. We believe this new crisis faced by our industry is urging the need for smarter and cheaper robotics solutions” said Gautier Dreyfus, co-founder and CEO of Forssea.
“We couldn’t be more pleased to be partnered with Forssea. Forssea’s offerings and vision for the future of visual positioning systems and robotics use are refreshingly innovative and sure to be a game changer for the industry.” Shannon Giagnorio, President Sottomarine Business Development Solutions.
The standard ARGOS version currently comes with “smart” piloting modes including latency management, auto-diagnosis features, dynamic positioning which is based on visual, acoustic and/or Inertial Navigation System/Doppler Velocity Log (INS/DVL) sensors and GO-TO features. Visual docking can be used to safely dock the ROV back inside its Tether Management System (TMS) especially in challenging weather conditions.
In addition to the Smart Piloting modes of ARGOS, the base system is supplied with a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) surface control unit and therefore is perfectly adapted to be installed on an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) with the capacity to perform either full autonomous operations or through the use of remote piloting from an on-shore control centre.
Gautier Dreyfus, CEO of Forssea explains, “We believe that the home for resident ROVs is not the seabed but USV. The requirements are similar: long immersions cycles and all electric design to reduce maintenance, supervised piloting mode with low latency, and autonomous features to deal with communication loss and pre-programmed operations such as pipe survey or asset inspection”.
Kongsberg and Sonardyne have recently collaborated with French underwater robotics startup Forssea to trial their «quick latching system» mounted upon a cNODE Maxi and Compatt 6+ LBL transponders. Tank tests have shown that the cage modification will enable offshore operators to use Forssea’s LBL new deployment and recovery method with very little acoustic perturbations. Forssea’s latching system could thus replace standard cages so that it can be grabbed by the ATOLL smart ROV from a smaller vessel of opportunity. This opens the door to faster, cheaper and safer operations.
Forssea signs technology ramp’up agreement with STR and completes 2 trials of visual positioning technology during the summer.
As part of this partnership, STR has invested in Forssea Visual LOCalisation (V-LOC) Positioning technology, which will be available globally for operations. The V-LOC positioning system is a computer vision-based method able to track and position underwater markers with millimetric accuracy. The V-LOC technology is embedded inside an innovative camera, called the NAV CAM which mounted on a ROV system and markers attached onto subsea assets.
The real-time output can provide the operator with live asset’s heading and attitude, or relative distance between 2 structures.
Gautier Dreyfus, Co-founder and CEO, Forssea said, “STR is a well-respected, technology focused company. I firmly believe that by forming this partnership with STR, we will penetrate the global subsea positioning markets. Our teams share the same spirit and are passionate in delivering innovative solutions to our customers. I am convinced this is just a first step as we are already working on the next generations of visual positioning subsea systems.”
Forssea is proud to collaborate with DeepOcean to develop new digital twins services using 3D photogrammetry. The ARGOS smart vehicle will be upgraded to perform untethered autonomous visual acquisition. More to come soon!
His new solution uses Forssea’s Atoll light-size autonomous docking system, designed to deploy and recover loads (up to 1 ton) from light opportunity offshore vessels, combined with iXblue’s DriX, a versatile USV offering outstanding endurance and unrivaled seakeeping performances (up to sea state 3). Using iXblue’s launch and recovery system and advanced autodocking capability, DriX can be deployed from any lifting device in sea states up to level 3. Thanks to its embedded Gaps pre-calibrated INS and USBL acoustic system with field-proven box-in capabilities, this new solution provides flexible, robust and highly accurate calibration to offshore companies.
Very agile, it does not require heavy logistical support and provides up to 70% savings compared to traditional methods. Stored into containers, all assets can be easily shipped to any operation in the world at very short notice and can be used from any light opportunity vessel equipped with a crane and with reduced crew onboard.
Offshore robotics company Forssea chose GMS as main technical partner to certify its real-time visual positioning technologies. A joint laboratory will be created to develop a common offer covering camera calibration, subsea image treatment and innovative photogrammetry solutions.
Forssea decided last year to adapt its Atoll ROV embedded visual docking technology into a stand-alone product. The company was already manufacturing and commercializing underwater cameras, mainly for R&D underwater vision applications.
The so-called V-LOC (Visual LOCalization) technology has been designed for quick and operational use. One operator sticks the marker on the structure and the camera computes the six-degree coordinates in real-time on the user screen.
“GMS track-record is very relevant when it comes to subsea. So much need to be implemented while too few photogrammetry experts are invited to the discussion table. Working with Forssea was quite natural, as their know-how and technology are very complementary to our expertise. And they are in the spotlight at the moment!” said Frédéric Jallon, Technical Director at GMS.
Offshore robotics startup Forssea announced an investment of €2.4M led by the French VC firm IRDI-SORIDEC with additional funds coming from the family office SOPER and a team of international energy investors.
Part of the total funding came from the winning of several national innovation grants including the “Ship of the Future” program managed by the French Energy Agency (ADEME) and the I-Lab competition organized by the French public investment bank (BPI). This is Forssea’s second successful fundraising as the company already raised €500k in 2016.
The new funds will enable Forssea to undertake and complete sea qualifications of its Atoll vehicle in 2019.
“This funding will enable us to qualify our proprietary designed ATOLL vehicle as well as state-of-the-art underwater vision systems. We will undertake several trial sessions in October 2018 in shallow water, whereas the full depth equipment will be assembled early 2019 for deep water trials mid-year. Working offshore is a real challenge and this successful fund raising is an important milestone underpinning our ambition”, said Gautier Dreyfus, co-founder and CEO at Forssea.
