The O.S.I.R.I.S project, an initiative funded by Innovate UK, has announced a new partnership with BOW, a robotics software company. The project, which includes partnerships with ORE Catapult and ACUA Ocean, aims to enhance the efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness of offshore wind operations through the deployment of a combination of aerial drones and underwater autonomous vehicles.
The project is set to deliver a fully autonomous inspection system by 2027 and would play a role in the UK's energy transition. The initiative will allow for testing and validating robotic systems in diverse environmental conditions before their deployment in real-world offshore settings. The ACUA Ocean hydrogen-powered unmanned surface vessel (H-USV) will serve as the platform for deploying and managing the drones and underwater robots, creating a seamless and autonomous system for inspection and maintenance of offshore wind farms.
The UK is a global leader in offshore wind energy, accounting for 43 percent of Europe’s offshore wind capacity, producing a record 49 TWh of renewable electricity. However, offshore wind farms require frequent maintenance to ensure optimal performance, and these operations currently rely on costly, time-consuming methods that often involve human crews and manned vessels.
By 2027, the O.S.I.R.I.S project aims to deliver a fully autonomous inspection system that will not only support the offshore wind industry but could also be applied across the wider marine industry.
Mike Tinmouth, Co-Founder of ACUA Ocean, emphasised the importance of the collaboration:
“This Innovate UK feasibility and viability project represents a significant step towards autonomous, zero-emission offshore operations. Our hydrogen-powered unmanned surface vessel (USV Pioneer) will serve as the central hub for deploying and managing robotic inspections, reducing the need for at-risk crewed vessels and cutting operational emissions.
"By collaborating with BOW and ORE Catapult, we are not only enhancing efficiency and safety in offshore wind maintenance but also paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future in maritime industries following the project’s completion.”
Melissa Sandison, Principal R&D Robotics Engineer at ORE Catapult, added: “Robotics has enormous potential for offshore wind, making operations safer, more resilient, and cost-effective while accelerating progress toward Net Zero. Our offshore simulation environment fast-tracks robotic adoption by enabling realistic testing and validation, helping technologies advance through TRLs more efficiently.
"Through this Innovate UK project, we are enhancing our STUDS simulation platform with BOW's adaptable SDK, allowing seamless integration of multiple robots from different manufacturers. This enables us to simulate heterogeneous multi-robot fleets where aerial, surface, and subsea robots collaborate as a team, ensuring reliable communication and interoperability for real-world offshore operations.”
Photo by Nicholas Doherty
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