Nauticus Robotics: pioneering the next wave of marine innovations
Nic Radford, Founder, President & CEO at Nauticus Robotics, joins Builder Nation's Podcast host Elisa Muñoz to share his experiences as a leader in sustainable subsea technologies and the insights he has gained from his broad expertise in robotics.
This interview was brought to you by BuilderNation, the community of Hardware leaders developing world-changing products, and sponsored by ControlHub, the purchasing software for hardware companies.
The marine and offshore industry is critical for global trade and commerce. This industry is essential to our modern world, from transporting goods and raw materials to providing jobs and economic opportunities.
Innovation is crucial for marine technology companies as it allows them to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability while reducing costs. Companies like Nauticus Robotics are leading the way in developing innovative solutions, such as ocean robots, shipping software, and autonomous vessels, by leveraging technologies from AI and machine learning to X technology and electric power.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the marine and offshore industry, its current state, and the latest technologies and innovations driving it forward. We will also explore some emerging trends shaping its future, with a particular focus on Nauticus Robotics.
The industry: innovations and technologies
The marine and offshore industry has faced several challenges recently, including overcapacity, economic downturns, and rising fuel costs. Despite these challenges, the industry has continued to grow and evolve, partly thanks to advancements in technology and innovation. Today, the shipping industry is an essential part of the global economy, responsible for transporting about 90% of the world's trade, and contributing with over USD 574 billion annually to the global economy.
Numerous emerging trends are shaping the industry's future, such as automation, robotics, big data analytics, the adoption of blockchain, and other digital technologies. These trends enable businesses to enhance their operations, boost efficiency, and reduce costs, improving sustainability and safety.
The expansion of ocean robots has become a crucial tool for exploring, researching, maintaining, and inspecting underwater infrastructure, reducing the need for risky operations involving human divers. In the same way, shipping software has become increasingly important, providing businesses with critical data and insights into their operations, including logistics management and real-time tracking.
By leveraging these technological tools, companies can operate more efficiently and make informed decisions, further enhancing their capabilities and competitiveness in the market.
Nauticus Robotics
Nauticus Robotics is a leading company at the forefront of revolutionizing the industry through advanced robotics and software solutions. The company combines cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous systems, enabling businesses to operate more efficiently and sustainably. Their innovative products, such as the toolKITT, Olympic Arm, Hydronaut, and Aquanaut, are designed to improve operations' safety, reliability, and productivity while reducing costs and environmental impact.
The company aims to disrupt the current ocean services paradigm by introducing and integrating advanced and autonomous robotic technologies. They provide customers with the necessary data collection, analytics, and subsea manipulation capabilities to support and maintain assets while reducing their operational footprint, operating cost, and greenhouse gas emissions.
There's this multi-trillion dollar economy that has all sorts of infrastructure and this needs to be inspected, maintained and repaired. So I started looking into it, and got really inspired.
Nauticus products
Nauticus Robotics has developed a range of innovative products; let´s take a look.
ToolKITT
The AI and machine learning-powered robotics control software provides advanced navigation technology and environmental perception, enabling supervised autonomy in surface and subsea robotics platforms. The Helmsman control system on every robotics platform interprets and adapts to remote instructions, while the Commander application transmits master control inputs and autonomous mission directives.
Additionally, the software includes the Wayfinder feature, which uses sensor-enabled mapping and software modeling to provide a comprehensive view of the environment surrounding the robotics platform. At the same time, the Loggerhead function captures and stores the necessary data for customer use or diagnostics. These features streamline operations, optimize performance, and improve efficiency in managing intelligent subsea robots.
Olympic Arm
With its unique features and capabilities, the Olympic Arm is revolutionizing the subsea manipulator game, providing a sustainable and efficient option for underwater tasks with its all-electric design. Its technology matches the power of work-class hydraulic manipulators and surpasses them in maneuverability while running entirely on electricity.
This highly versatile tool offers heightened accuracy and controls through features such as Absolute Position Sensing, Direct Cartesian Control, and Subsea Tool Changing, including a Master Control with haptic feedback that enhances the operator's tactile understanding of the Olympic Arm's contact with objects.
The Olympic Arm's digitized mapping of the surroundings allows for identifying items of interest, obstacles, and potential hazards, combining semi-autonomous functionality with mandatory human input to mitigate risks, and providing flexibility in operations with the wireless network.
Hydronaut
This autonomous vessel can operate remotely or sail independently, transporting goods and equipment and deploying other robotic units into the sea without human presence, making it more efficient. Moreover, Hydronaut runs on diesel, producing lower carbon emissions than gas-powered vessels, making it a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for maritime transportation, contributing to a cleaner and greener blue economy.
Aquanaut
This highly versatile electric-powered robot can manage aquaculture projects, repair oil pipelines, and scan seabeds. It is the first subsea robot that is just as efficient as it is eco-friendly.
The robot has two modes of operation. It can function as an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) or be transformed into a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), allowing for increased flexibility and adaptability to different underwater projects. The design eliminates the need for complex infrastructure or a topside platform, increasing efficiency, reducing costs and eliminating the need for human crews.
Additionally, is 100% powered by electricity, emitting no CO2 whatsoever, making it a highly sustainable option for underwater operations. Its design also eliminates the need for human crews, ensuring increased safety during challenging projects.
The future of the industry
As the global economy evolves, the industry is embracing changes to meet new demands. Nauticus Robotics is a trailblazer in this field, offering state-of-the-art products and solutions that are transforming operations. From advanced robotics and automation to big data analytics and blockchain, these technologies are revolutionizing the sector.
As we look ahead, we expect to see even more advancements in the shipping industry, focusing on greater efficiency, enhanced sustainability, and heightened safety. With Nauticus Robotics leading the way, the industry is well-positioned to make significant strides toward a more innovative and sustainable future.
