Robots and the Future of Underwater robots
Overview
The future of robotics, especially underwater robotics, is an exciting realm with immense potential and bright prospects. Various studies and research all point towards one conclusion – underwater robots are all set to experience a boom in the coming years. Whether it's improved accuracy in data collection, increased efficiency in underwater operations, aiding scientific research, or expanding our knowledge of the oceanic depths, the role of robots is expected to be transformative.
Exploring The Underwater Realms
The ocean, which covers about 71% of the Earth's surface, is majorly unexplored, known as the Earth’s last frontier. Scientists estimate that 80% of the world’s oceans are unexplored, unknown, and unseen by humans. The current boom in underwater robotics, thanks to advancements in AI and automation, hopes to change this figure. Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) present immense potential in this space. Taking advantage of the cost and safety benefits, it is estimated that the global UUV market will reach $5.2 Billion by 2022, highlighting the increasing adoption of autonomous operations.
A Boost for Oceanic Research and Mining
The efficacy of underwater robots stretches beyond exploration. It has significant implications in research contexts and economic activities such as deep-sea mining. According to a report by Global Market Insights, the underwater robotics market in scientific research applications is expected to reach around $2 billion by 2026. Furthermore, the demand for minerals and metals, combined with depleting terrestrial deposits, has led to an increase in deep-sea mining activities. Robots, with their capability to operate at extreme depths, are the ideal tools for such operations, contributing to projected growth in the underwater mining industry.
Enhancing Human Safety and Efficiency
Underwater robots play a pivotal role in augmenting human safety and increasing efficiency during marine operations. Remotely Operated underwater Vehicles (ROVs) are employed widely in oil and gas industries, where human divers are exposed to significant risk. Use of ROVs reduced work-related accidents by 68% in these sectors and increased efficiency by 32%, emphasizing that robots are crucial to transforming hazardous operations.
Key Takeaways
- Underwater robots hold immense potential in exploration, boosting research, enhancing safety, and increasing efficiency in various sectors, particularly the energy, marine, and mining industries.
- The global UUV market is projected to reach $5.2 Billion by 2022.
- The underwater robotics market for scientific research is set to hit $2 billion by 2026.
- The application of ROVs in hazardous operations can significantly reduce work-related accidents by 68% and boost efficiency by 32%.
3Laws Robotics: Implementing Safe and Efficient Robotic Systems across Industries
3Laws Robotics is at the forefront of enhancing safety and reliability for robotic systems. Recognizing the certification pains of many developing robotic companies, 3Laws is focused on developing innovative solutions to streamline and simplify the certification process.
Their proprietary software, 3Laws Supervisor, robustly executes safety features and system robustness, thereby making the certification path an easier process. Built on Control Barrier Functions (CBFs), a technology developed at Caltech, 3Laws Supervisor provides mathematically provable safety, a crucial aspect in safety-oriented Certification processes.
3Laws isn't limited to a specific application or industry. They have proven results in warehouse automation, where they helped an autonomous forklift customer increase their efficiency by 40%, delivering a payback period of just six months. Furthermore, 3Laws solutions facilitate safe and uninterrupted operation of robots near humans, offering essential solutions for the growing need for collaborative robotics.
Predictive and dynamic, 3Laws' reactive collision avoidance capabilities enable robots to navigate effectively in unpredictable surroundings, delivering minimized downtime caused by unnecessary e-stops or collisions. Their real-time guardrails allow robots to operate closer to their peak capabilities while maintaining safety.
3Laws' flexible and versatile software can work with a wide spectrum of platforms, from mobile robots and cars to drones and manipulators, and is compatible with popular robotics middleware such as ROS and ROS2.
By going beyond traditional e-stop methods, 3Laws is the next generation of safety solutions, offering proactive safety that unlocks the true potential of robotics.