Offshore energy platforms: the new challenge for inspection robotics

The Research Center conferences aim to raise awareness within the community about new topics and technological innovations. 

Aimed at a wide audience—students and researchers from all disciplines—they draw on the multidisciplinary expertise of the MIPS Center, partner centers and structures, and national and international teams.

They are held on the first Friday of each month at 11:30 a.m. and are followed by a buffet lunch, providing an opportunity to continue discussions.

Speakers

• Juliette Drupt, Associate Professor, University of Montpellier – LIRMM
• José de Jesus Castillo Zamora, Senior Lecturer, University of Montpellier IUT Béziers – LIRMM
• Jean-Charles Laurentie, researcher, University of Montpellier – IES

Summary

Marine renewable energy (MRE) is booming, and the industrial challenges in the Occitanie region are significant. Ensuring the operation of offshore platforms associated with these marine energies creates specific needs in terms of robotic underwater inspection. These issues include the structural characterization of platforms (to detect any damage), the study of the interaction between the platform and underwater life (biofouling, noise pollution, impact on marine environments), and the dynamic inspection of the power transmission cable associated with the platform. Several large-scale industrial and academic projects are being carried out in parallel within the region, involving both the IES for issues related to sensors and energy and the LIRMM for robotic platform inspection. We will present the challenges related to optimized navigation and data analysis for damage detection, as well as instrumentation and wireless transmission methods for measurements. The LIRMM's expertise in underwater drones and the IES's expertise in sensors and diagnostics are complementary assets for addressing these issues.

In line with the PTLs of the MIPS Cluster, teams from LIRMM (underwater drone expertise) and IES (sensor and diagnostics expertise) are combining their skills to meet these challenges.

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