RESHAPING UNDERWATER OPERATIONS

The Eelume Concept and Value Proposition

Eelume is a disruptive technology for subsea inspection, maintenance and repair (IMR). Eelume vehicles are basically self-propelled, autonomous robotic arms whose slender and flexible body can transit over long distances and carry out IMR in confined spaces not accessible by conventional underwater vehicles.

The vehicle is well suited to execute inspection and light intervention missions on subsea structures, such as offshore wind farms, fish farms and oil & gas production facilities and pipelines. The vehicle can also be equipped with sensors for executing environmental surveys such as detecting gas leakages, oil in water, salinity, temperature, sound etc.

Our vehicles are engineered to live permanently under water, where they can be mobilized 24/7 regardless of weather conditions. A continuous IMR capability near the subsea installations without the need for surface vessels means greener, safer and less costly subsea operations. Cost of subsea operations could be reduced by up to 90% by use of subsea resident, autonomous vehicles. For missions of shorter duration the vehicle may be launched from ship or shore.

Subsea Resident

Designed to live subsea by being connected to a docking station on the seabed.
Safer and Greener

A resident solution which can be mobilized 24/7 without the need for a surface vessel enables safer, greener and more cost efficient subsea operations.
Modular System

The robot consists of modules and is adaptable to a wide range of subsea operations. Modules can be connected in different combinations to form various types of vehicles.
Intervention

The vehicle itself is a dexterous robotic arm which can operate tools and carry out intervention tasks.
Long Range

By straightening the joints, the robot becomes slender like a torpedo and can transit over long distances like a survey AUV.
Access Difficult Areas

By using the joints the robot can change its shape to position sensors in an optimum way. The flexible and slender body also enables the robot to access and operate in confined spaces.

System and Product

The Eelume vehicle is modular. By combining thruster modules, joints, sensor modules and different payload modules the vehicle is configured to the customer’s specification. By use of the thrusters and joints the vehicle can attain any pose in the water. The jointed, slender body allows for hovering as well as energy efficient survey missions and maneuvering even in strong ocean currents.

Sensors and tools can be mounted anywhere along the flexible body. A dual-arm configuration is achieved by mounting tooling in each end and forming the vehicle body into a U-shape. One end of the arm can grab and hold to fixate the vehicle, while the other end can carry out inspection and intervention tasks. One end of the arm can also provide a perspective camera view of a tool operation carried out at the other end.

All these flexible operational scenarios are made possible by the unique shape-changing capabilities of the Eelume vehicles.

The Eelume

The Eelume Story

Eelume was established in 2015 as a spin-off from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). After a decade of research on snake robots in collaboration with the research organization SINTEF it was decided to pursue use of the technology within subsea applications.

In 2016 Eelume entered into a strategic partnership with Kongsberg Maritime and Equinor. This partnership ensures that our unique vehicle concept is fused with leading subsea experience and technology. Support from the Research Council of Norway and Innovation Norway has also been vital to development of the technology and the company.

We are immensely proud of our technology and progress achieved so far! Our creative and highly motivated team is only at the beginning of its mission to reshape underwater operations!