Electric DeepWorks ROV simulator unveiled

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) simulator producer, Fugro, has announced the development of a new version of its DeepWorks ROV simulator for the Saab Seaeye family of electric ROVs. This new system will support console integration of the Seaeye Tiger, Lynx, Cougar XT and Panther XT/XT plus ROV models.

DeepWorks software is designed for subsea engineering simulation and visualisation. It allows users to design, rehearse and monitor the most complex offshore engineering missions, subsea interventions and marine operations in real time. For pilot training, the most important feature is replication of the Seaeye overlay which tells the pilot where the ROV is, its depth, pitch and roll and camera tilt angle. Replicating the actual user interface means that when pilots go offshore the console feels immediately familiar and missions can be performed as practised. Other built-in features to improve pilot skills and responses include independent viewpoint control, sonar interpretation and fault simulation at any point in the mission.

According to Fugro, DeepWorks now allows rapid building and evaluation of new electrical ROV configurations, helping operators find the best arrangement and mountings for cameras, sonars and tooling while ensuring the vehicle remains dynamically stable. As the range of missions electric ROVs undertake grows, Fugro believes DeepWorks offers a cost effective way of building and testing multi-mission capability.

Dr Jason Tisdall, Fugro’s Robotic Technologies business line manager, said: ‘Our investment in designing DeepWorks as a versatile simulation platform capable of providing simulation of any type of ROV is now paying off. In just a few months we have integrated DeepWorks with the Saab Seaeye surface and hand control units, and delivered an ROV pilot trainer with true electric thruster response, accurate navigation overlay and realistic training scenarios for five of the most popular models of Saab Seaeye ROV.’

Accurate electric thruster modelling gives the vehicle true behavioural responses to pilot demands. This creates high levels of realism when training and rehearsing key mission tasks such as docking, navigation by camera and by sonar, close inspection or tool deployment. Thrusters have initially been tuned for the Seaeye Tiger ROV, with other models to follow.