Tentacle Robot Revolutionises Offshore Inspections – Safer, Smarter & Sustainable Subsea Tech
Meet the ocean’s newest inspector: a tentacle-like robot developed by the UK’s National Robotarium and Brazil’s Senai Cimatec, designed to make offshore subsea inspections safer and more efficient.
Unlike rigid robotic arms, this one-metre-long soft manipulator bends and conforms to delicate structures, reducing the risk of damage when working near complex subsea equipment.
It moves using a flexible backbone with tendon-like cables, while sensors allow it to understand its shape and position even in turbulent water.
In tests, the robot held steady against external forces of up to 300g and could correct its position within seconds when disturbed, showing impressive stability and precision.
With subsea infrastructure at depths of nearly 3,000 metres requiring constant checks—and decommissioning costs projected to exceed $100 billion by 2030—this technology could extend the safe life of offshore assets while cutting costs and environmental impact.
Rowanne Miller, project manager at the National Robotarium, said this innovation doesn’t just improve current tools, but fundamentally changes how underwater inspections can be carried out.
By enabling smaller underwater vehicles to take on inspection work without large vessels or divers, the technology offers a safer, more sustainable, and more economical way to maintain vital offshore energy and marine infrastructure.
And that’s your robot news update for today!
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