Robots and the Future of Surveying and Mapping (Geophysical) Services
Overview:
Robots are taking the geophysical surveying and mapping industry by storm, enabling high accuracy and efficiency levels that were not possible before. This guide explores how the integration of robotics with geophysical services presents a promising future, with statistics indicating significant growth and advancement. The discussion also includes 3Laws Robotics' contribution towards enhancing safety and reliability for such robotic systems, with its innovative software that promises to simplify certification processes and promote operational efficiency.
Integration of Robotics in Surveying and Mapping
Robotics is revolutionizing the geophysical surveying and mapping industry, offering enhanced accuracy, time efficiency, and increased data collection. It is predicted that by 2025, the global robotics market in the field of surveying and mapping would reach $3.7 billion, with a CAGR of 24.5%. Drones, autonomous vehicles, and underwater robots are significantly improving the speed and precision of data collection, resulting in mapping detail that is up to 98.7% accurate. This vast reservoir of collected data allows geophysicists to gain deeper insights and make more accurate predictions.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in Geophysical Surveying
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, or drones, have greatly enhanced the geophysical surveying process. As per some studies, they have cut down field data collection time by 50%, increasing efficiency and reducing both time and cost. In 2019, revenue from drone services in surveying and mapping was approximately $1.3 billion worldwide, highlighting the growing acceptance of robotics in this field. Drones are instrumental in topographic surveys, photogrammetry, volumetric calculations and documenting progress, offering detailed and accurate results.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) in Geophysical Services
Currently, about 30% of underwater geophysical exploration relies on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). By the end of 2022, this percentage is anticipated to increase by at least 10%. These robots are increasingly being used for seabed mapping, oil and gas exploration, and pipeline inspection. Their ability to operate in extreme depth and hazardous conditions allows them to collect invaluable data, which helps in critical decision making, reducing potential risks.
Key Takeaways
• The integration of robotics in the geophysical surveying and mapping industry is radically increasing efficiency, precision, and data collection.
• Global growth in this field is remarkable, with the market projected to reach $3.7 billion by 2025.
• Drones have significantly accelerated the data collection process, reducing it by 50%.
• An increasing reliance on AUVs is observed in underwater geophysical exploration, predicted to rise by at least 10% by the end of 2022.
3Laws Robotics: Fostering Safety and Efficiency in Robotic Services
A key player in the robotic space, 3Laws Robotics, focuses on improving the safety and reliability of robotics systems employed in the geophysical surveying and mapping industry. To overcome the certification challenge, a major bottleneck for robotics companies, its software: 3Laws Supervisor offers robust safety features along with evidence of system robustness, that could potentially streamline the certification process.
Built around the technology of Control Barrier Functions (CBFs) - a Caltech innovation, this software assures mathematically provable safety. Versatile use scenarios include warehouse automation, human-robot interaction, and operation in dynamic environments. For instance, 3Laws helped an autonomous forklift customer achieve a 40% efficiency gain, offering a payback period as short as 6 months.
Remarkably, 3Laws seeks to enhance operational efficiency by minimizing unnecessary downtime caused by collisions or undesired e-stops. By establishing real-time operational boundaries for autonomy stacks, 3Laws empowers robots to function closer to their topmost capabilities, ensuring safety.
The uniqueness of 3Laws lies in its adaptability, being compatible with various platforms like mobile robots, cars, drones, and manipulators. The compatibility extends to popular robotics software such as ROS and ROS2, reinforcing 3Laws as a breakthrough safety solution. Offering a proactive approach to safety, it extends beyond traditional e-stop methods, unveiling the full potential of robotics with dynamic, predictive safety that can be certified for ISO 3691-4 and ISO 26262.