Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Market

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) market is expected to witness high growth over the next five years. The market growth is poised to be driven by the growing demand for AUVs in the oil & gas industry and increase in military spending. However, the growth of the market can be hindered by limited flight range and endurance and prone to cyber-attacks.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} The oil & gas industry is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period after the global slowdown in 2014. Obtaining oil & gas from both non-conventional and conventional sources is becoming more dynamic in the current scenario. The need for oil & gas in various industries will necessitate the implementation of robotics and automation in rugged offshore and onshore environments to enhance efficiency and improve productivity. AUVs are maneuverable underwater vehicles that are programmed and freely dropped into the ocean. After collection of the required data from the ocean, the AUV comes to the water surface and is onboard from the surface of the ocean. AUVs are equipped with cameras, manipulators, and water samplers for monitoring unsheltered maritime environments, light penetration, and water temperature.

AUVs are designed for various critical applications in the oil & gas industry, from drilling and construction support to decommissioning of wells. The need for AUVs in the oil & gas industry is growing in complex environments, explosive atmospheres, underwater pipeline management, platforms, and other operations.

The figure below highlights the rig count by Baker Hughes across the world, which increased by 436 from the year 2016 to 2017. The growing demand is pushing oil & gas companies to explore deep-water oilfields, which are present in challenging environments.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} This increasing rig count in the world, and the US shows the rising investments in the oil & gas industry, which is expected to result in an increased demand for AUVs for operational efficiency.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} Robotics is an emerging technology that has shown considerable promise in marine life biological applications. The building of three-dimensional objects based on a computer-aided design (CAD) digital model is called 3D printing. The process creates parts that are lightweight and reduces the consumption of materials used in manufacturing. It covers various technologies, such as binder jetting and digital light processing. The 3D printing process offers various kinds of fabrication, such as selective laser sintering (SLS) and stereolithography (SLA).

There have been several advances in modern subsea systems with constantly changing challenging ocean environments. Driven by government regulations and current requirements, subsea system manufacturers are focused on the research and development of best solutions with efficient operational costs. AUV is one such technology that supports various projects in the depths of the ocean.

In the case of AUVs, 3D printing is economical as it allows for quick design and rapid changes of internal features. The process can be used to print electronics directly on to 3D surfaces, which also helps in reducing the size and weight of the unmanned system and results in optimum efficiency.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} Most of the operational AUVs, as of 2019, are electric-powered by batteries. One of the major challenges with these electric-powered AUVs is their extremely limited battery life and flight range. With limited endurance and flight range, these systems are not suitable for long-distance remote operations and are required to be back to the ground controller/ground control station to swap batteries. Even with the most effective power technology, the maximum range of Autosub is 940 km. This is a significant restraint that can adversely affect the global market.

There are certain risks associated with the use of AUVs, such as mid-air collision, loss of control, and flying beyond the signal range or permitted range. Such factors majorly contribute to the limited use of AUVs for offshore and onshore applications, which subsequently hinders the growth of the market.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:"Roboto Condensed"; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} As AUVs are programmed and deployed in offshore and onshore, the technical accuracy, communication systems, and components play a vital role in the start to end process of AUV activities. AUVs are programmed and deployed in the ocean, and after the deployment, the collected data is transferred at the receiver’s end. These communications are carried out with the devices at various frequencies. The challenges arise in these communications during poor weather conditions in the ocean. Sudden changes in the weather of the ocean impact the technical accuracy and the communication between the transmitter and the receiver of the AUVs. Such technological issues, along with their instability, positional inaccuracy, and low battery life, make them relatively less reliable for inspection and monitoring over a large scale and long durations. Thus, this is the major challenge in the operation of AUVs.