Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Argeo unveils Argus survey and inspection vehicle for offshore energy sector

The Norway-based company Argeo has launched the first uncrewed, remotely supervised survey and inspection vehicle, called Argeo Argus. The Argus USV (Uncrewed Surface Vehicle) is expected to undertake advanced mapping and inspection services using robotics and autonomous ocean space technology for offshore and energy projects in water depths from 2-200 meters.

The multipurpose USV is 9-meter long, 3-meter wide, and weighs around 5 tons. Flexible and easy to deploy anywhere in the world, the vessel uses a hybrid propulsion system and offers an operational time of up to 30 days. It operates at a speed of 3 to 6 knots (5.5 to 11 km/h) but can reach a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h).

Argeo Argus can be transported in a shipping container to port for launch or can be craned into the water from the conventional crewed survey vessel it’s been designed to work alongside. It offers a stable, low-emission hybrid platform equipped with state-of-the-art navigation, supervision, and hydrographic and geophysical technology. Thanks to full position control, the vessel can be used for safe and remote supervised operations 24/7.

The USV will do advanced mapping and inspection services using robotics and autonomous ocean space technology.
The USV will do advanced mapping and inspection services using robotics and autonomous ocean space technology. Credit: Argeo

In addition, the USV offers high-resolution data quality for detailed seabed mapping and shallow water geology from integrated geophysical and hydrographical sensors.

The market for Argeo Argus is not only within offshore wind; the team also sees material demand within Oil & Gas and mineral extraction and for environmental monitoring and inspections of infrastructure and installations. The vessel was built at Maritime Robotics in Trondheim, Norway, in close collaboration with Argeo. The main focus was to reduce the carbon footprint of the vessel.

“We managed a 95% reduction in the emission compared to a traditional manned vessel. Our goal is 100%, which we hope to reach soon,” says CEO Trond Crantz at Argeo.

In addition to the recently launched Argus, Argeo owns and operates four AUVs, two Hugin AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), and two Sea Raptor AUVs.