RE2 Develops Controls to Improve ROV Manipulation Skills
Pittsburgh-based RE2 Robotics has received an undisclosed amount of Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding from the US Navy. RE2, a 2021 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award winner, will develop "coupled control" for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and robotic manipulators using a unified control system.
The project, called the Coupled Locomotion and Manipulation System (CLAMS), will combine the robotic manipulator control system and the ROV control system into one unit. RE2 said this will improve the coordination of the underwater manipulator and ROV movements.
CLAMS will allow operators to control the system's robotic manipulators and the ROV simultaneously from a single control station. This is made possible by combining RE2's new Coupled Remote Teleoperation Localization Software (CTRLS) and the System Unification Model (SUM) to enable interaction between the ROV and robotic manipulators. CTRLS allows the operator of the topside remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to send mission goals to the SUM module located on the vehicle.
“Currently, robotic manipulators and ROVs are controlled by separate control systems. CLAMS will allow both the robotic manipulators and the mobile platform to be controlled from a single control unit. Integrating these platforms will let users increase efficiency by freeing the operator from monitoring two separate control stations during a task”
In addition to defense applications, RE2 said CLAMS will benefit industries that use underwater manipulation systems for routine inspections and maintenance tasks, such as the oil and gas industry and renewable energy sectors.
“The goal of CLAMS is to improve control over RE2 Sapien Sea Class devices installed on the VideoRay Defender remotely operated vehicle by addressing these two components as a single system. This will allow topside operators to have greater control over semi-autonomous operations while the integrated system works underwater”
This is the second ROV-related contract RE2 has won in a few months. In September 2021, the company signed a $9.5 million contract with the US Navy to develop ROVs for autonomous neutralization of underwater mines. The system will use the RE2 Sapien Sea Class to precisely position and attach neutralization devices to underwater mines and water-borne improvised explosive devices (WBIEDs).
RE2 Robotics won an RBR50 award for developing a robotic solution for autonomous deployment of solar panels. The Optimized Autonomous Mobile Photovoltaic Platform (O-AMPP) can both autonomously transport and install photovoltaic modules.
The O-AMPP base unit consists of an RE2 Sapien manipulator arm attached to the top of a large unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). The platform can maneuver in the confined space between photovoltaic arrays to deliver a new set of solar panels to the installation site. Using computer vision, the system registers the target installation spot and uses the Sapien arm to lift a solar panel and install it in the array.
RE2 Robotics has developed a family of RE2 Sapien robotic manipulators, RE2 Detect computer vision software and RE2 Intellect autonomy software, enabling intelligent mobile control systems that operate in a variety of complex indoor and outdoor environments.
RE2 systems help companies in the aviation, construction, defense, energy and medical industries carry out remote operations, improve employee safety and efficiency, and reduce operating costs.
RE2 combines state-of-the-art technologies that help improve the productivity of solar panel installers. Commercial photovoltaic installations are growing at record rates, and the market currently lacks installers to meet demand for clean energy.
RE2 addresses this market need with a fully automated solar panel installation solution. No other autonomous solution exists on the market. O-AMPP acts as an assistant device, taking on the labor-intensive task of picking and placing photovoltaic panels, while workers perform more complex tasks such as electrical wiring, cable laying and checking installation performance.
RE2 Robotics is a leading developer of intelligent mobile manipulation systems. The company strives to build manipulators with human-like characteristics, intuitive robot interfaces and advanced autonomy capabilities for use in any environment.
"Why choose RE2 technology? Our team has spent nearly 20 years developing robotic solutions for complex tasks. Our robotic manipulators are distinguished by high energy capacity, energy efficiency and reliability even in the most demanding conditions," the company said.
