What's New At Saab Seaeye (2010)
 

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29 July 2010

FALCON FLIES TO THE MOON

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Falcon lowered into moon pool

Flying a Falcon ROV by helicopter to be dropped down a moon pool for an urgent inspection, offshore Western Australia, is just one of the big demands made of the smallest ROV in Saab Seaeye's range by Australian subsea operator Dive Works

Soon to take delivery of their third Falcon, Dive Works' managing director Andrew Ford, believes in exploiting the capability of the compact Falcon to its fullest.

"We keep finding ways to make the Falcon do the work of larger ROVs and save money for our customers," he says.

In one instance he is saving the industry over $150,000 every time he uses a Falcon for a task typically undertaken by a light work-class ROV.

Previously, to fit a monitor into a well-head delivery line needed a work-class manipulator with muscular outreach power to engage and key-turn the unit. Dive Works' clever idea is to utilise the Falcon's thruster power for a task that needs 12 kilos of down force. Simply by designing and fitting a fish-head key-lock to the underside of the ROV, straight below the central thruster, the ROV is manoeuvred over the fish-head using the idea of a slave camera fitted inside the key itself. Once in position the ROV pushes down, then the whole vehicle rotated 90 degrees to lock the monitor in place. The procedure is reversed for recovery.

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Orange-coloured fish tail, right, on which the key-lock engages	Simple but effective key-way assembly can save over $150,000

'We've proved time and again, that if you think outside the box you can discover new ways to extend the capability of this versatile ROV,' says Ford who has been using Falcons since 2005. 'Most people just don't think creatively about tooling.'

He adds that savings can be made, not only through creative applications, but also because the Falcon is a highly mobile ROV that needs fewer operators to deploy. Worldwide, ROV operators have been won over by the Falcon's versatility and proven reliability in the harshest conditions - winning it a reputation that has made it the best selling ROV in Saab Seaeye's range, with over 210 in operation around the world.

Operators not only like that it's light to manhandle, but role change is easy using bolt-on under-slung modules.

Connecting up to 128 devices together on a single RS 485 serial network has a plug-and-go simplicity similar to the way a USB port senses whatever systems are fitted.

Finger-tip maneuverability comes from five powerful independent magnetically coupled brushless DC thrusters, each with velocity feedback for precise and rapid thrust control. It has a fast PID control system with a solid-state rate gyro for enhanced azimuth stability that prevents overshoot on change of heading as well as stabilising the vehicle in forward flight. A pitch and roll sensor has also been added.

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The core Falcon has lights, camera and video options as standard including solid-state gyro, compass, depth sensor and a 450 metre umbilical. The deep rated 1000 metre version has built-in fibre optics for high volume data transmission over its long umbilical, and the ability to use broadcast quality video cameras. It also has tilting variable intensity lights linked to a camera tilt mechanism for superior illumination when filming above or below the vehicle.

Fitted with Saab Seaeye's own design of LED lamps, reliability of the lighting system is hugely increased by avoiding the need to recover the vehicle to replace a failed lamp.

For inspection and mapping work the Falcon can be fitted with inertial navigation, a Doppler velocity log and profiling sonar.

Newly available is an up-front flight display overlay where the pilot sees not only compass and depth, but pitch and roll, camera tilt angle, umbilical turns counter and time and date. The flight monitor can also display editable user messages and system menus. Fitting additional sensors to the ROV allows odometer and CP readouts to be available.

Dive Works operates its fleet of Falcons around the whole of Australia, not just in the oil and gas industry, but in government and water authorities, and the aquaculture industry where it has built a reputation for inventive solutions.

Saab Seaeye is the largest electric ROV manufacturer in the world with a range used across the oil and gas industry, defence, marine science, underwater tourism and hydro-engineering. Its parent, Saab Underwater Systems is itself a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems, and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

For more information contact:

Andrew Ford
Dive Works
+61 408 881 616

www.diveworks.com.au

Dave Grant
Saab Seaeye Limited
+44 (0)1489 898 000

www.seaeye.com

22 June 2010

THE PORTUGUESE FALCON

Portugal's first and only private ROV operation has launched with a new Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV.

Head of the company, Nelson Santo says he chose the Falcon for its proven performance in the oil and gas industry, along with its wide range of operational capabilities and low entry cost.

His subsea services company, Taste of Imagination-Inspection Technology Lda, was formed to support offshore development planned by the Portuguese Government, and provide ROV services in existing Angolan oil fields.

A proposal is underway for the government to extend the Portuguese Continental Shelf beyond 200 nautical miles, with representation made at the United Nations to the Commission on the Limits of the Extension of Continental Shelf.

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Falcon - easy to add different tooling skids (This shows imaging module and single-function manipulator)

Nelson Santo, who has wide experience in the offshore industry, is attracted by the Falcon's reputation for power, reliability, role-changing capability and unequalled manoeuvrability.

With over 200 Falcons in use around the globe Saab Seaeye has created a winning formula with an ROV small enough to be manhandled, yet packed with technological innovations.

Rapid role-change during operations is a key feature where intelligent electronics offer a 'plug and go' simplicity that allows up to 128 devices to be added and changed easily.

This makes adding bolt-on accessories easier, including extra cameras, lights, tracking system, manipulator and sonar. Special tooling can also be attached on a removable skid.

ROV pilots like the finger-tip manoeuvrability of the Falcon and its ability to hold steady in strong cross-currents. This comes from its five brushless DC thrusters each having drive electronics with velocity feedback for precise and rapid control in all directions.

Pilots also have a new generation flight display that not only shows compass and depth, but vehicle pitch and roll, camera tilt angle, umbilical turns counter, and time and date. It also displays editable user messages and system menus.

For pilots, Taste of Imagination has established its own training division with simulators that include operating activities usually found at sea. Courses cover not only the technical skills required for the operations and maintenance of the ROV, but also knowledge of the work environment and regulations.

Taste of Imagination Inspection Technology is based in Caldes de Rainha, Portugal, and provides offshore and inshore inspection services along with ROV training.

Saab Seaeye is the largest manufacturer of electrically operated ROVs; and their parent company, Saab Underwater Systems, is a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems, and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

For more information contact:

Nelson Santo
Taste of Imagination-Inspection Technology Lda
+351 262 870740

www.tasteofimagination.com

Dave Grant
Saab Seaeye Limited
+44 (0)1489 898 000

www.seaeye.com

07 May 2010

COUGAR OFFSHORE IN CANADA

Canada's offshore oil and gas industry has a powerful new resource.

Pro-Dive Marine Services has taken delivery of the technologically advanced Cougar-XT remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from top manufacturer Saab Seaeye.

David Squires, president of Newfoundland-based Pro-Dive, says the Cougar-XT will bring an important inspection and electric work ROV resource to Canada's East Coast oil and gas sectors.

It makes an important addition to their existing ROV fleet and its offshore capabilities.

The company has grown since 1983 to become a major operator in the region where they provide ROV and diving services, construction and drill support, concrete mattresses, offshore grouting, subsea markers, offshore project support staff and subsea engineering.

Pro-Dive's Cougar XT with its TMS

The power of the 2000 metre rated Cougar-XT means it can operate heavy duty tooling and handle a wide range of work tasks including drill support, salvage, survey and IRM, at a much lower cost than using an hydraulic work ROV.

Also different tooling options are easily added and changed, using the ROV's modular interface and bolt-on custom skids.

Muscular tooling specified by Pro-Dive for their Cougar-XT includes a dual, five-function heavy duty manipulator.

It is also fitted with three cameras including a Kongsberg colour zoom, all of which are mounted on a pan and tilt system.

When flying the ROV, pilots get unrivalled manoeuvrability from four vectored horizontal thrusters and two vertical thrusters, each having velocity feedback for precise control and built with new drive technology that has increased thrust by 70% - giving the Cougar the highest thrust-to-weight ratio in its class.

Each thruster is interfaced to a fast-acting control system and solid-state gyro for enhanced azimuth stability that gives greater control and response than any other ROV on the market, say Saab Seaeye.

The Cougar-XT is deployed from its tether management system (TMS), that itself is launched from an A-frame launch and recovery system (LARS), certified to Zone II specification and fitted with a snubber-rotator to stabilise and rotate the TMS for safe recovery in rough sea states.

The whole system comes with a Zone II certified control cabin and workshop cabin. David Squires says the operational experience of their existing Saab Seaeye Falcon ROV gave them the confidence to trust the reliability and performance of the Cougar-XT to take on the rigours of work in the oilfields of Canada.

Saab Seaeye is the world's largest manufacturer of electrically operated ROVs. Its parent, Saab Underwater Systems, is itself a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems, and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

For more information contact:

Dave Grant
Saab Seaeye Limited
+44 (0)1489 898 000

www.seaeye.com

Dave Squires
Pro-Dive Marine Services
+1 709 368 7666

www.prodive.ca

13 April 2010

HELPING PILOTS STAY ON COURSE

Sight of a compass rose and the current depth is a sure way for a pilot to keep his ROV on course.

This is now shown on an up-front flight display overlay, introduced by Saab Seaeye, for the video monitor of its top selling Falcon ROV.

click image to enlarge Flight data overlay will help pilots maximise manoeuvrability

The pilot not only sees compass and depth, but vehicle pitch and roll, camera tilt angle, umbilical turns counter and time and date. The flight monitor can also display editable user messages and system menus. By fitting additional sensors to the ROV, odometer and CP readouts are also available.

The flight display feature has migrated from Saab Seaeye's larger ROV systems and comes as the company continues to improve the man/machine interface across all ROVs in its range, ready to leave the pilot free to focus on the operational task in hand.

And for existing Falcon users the changeover is as simple a swapping a pcb card.

With over 200 Falcons sold worldwide, the compact and portable ROV's winning formula comes from its easy-to-handle size, powerful thrusters and ready customisation for many different tasks across a variety of sectors. Tooling can be added or changed simply by bolting on an under-slung module.

Ease of customisation comes from a distributed intelligence control system that allows up to 128 devices to be connected together on a single RS 485 serial network.

This senses whatever systems are fitted to the ROV - much like a USB port - and makes fault diagnostics easier.

Easy deployment is key to Falcon success

The Falcon has been adopted for many different tasks across the world. It has been sent down tunnels for mapping and inspection; under the Baltic ice for search and rescue; and into the southern sector of the North Sea for diver support.

It can collect the most delicate coral samples and archeological specimens; or cut through 16mm of high tensile steel wire with ease.

Being light to manhandle it is easy to deploy, even in hostile environmental conditions and can hold steady in strong cross currents whilst undertaking a variety of tasks.

The finger-tip maneuverability of the Falcon comes from five powerful independent magnetically coupled brushless DC thrusters, each with velocity feedback for precise and rapid thrust control.

The core Seaeye Falcon comes complete with lights, camera and video options as standard including solid-state gyro, compass, depth sensor and a 450 metre umbilical. The deep rated 1000 metre version has built-in fibre optics for high volume data transmission over its long umbilical and the ability to use broadcast quality video cameras. It also has tilting variable intensity lights linked to its camera tilt mechanism for superior illumination when filming above or below the vehicle.

Its small and light-weight surface control unit has a rugged19 inch rack and features a fold-out 17 inch flat-screen LCD monitor and keyboard. And where hostile conditions are to be met, an optional waterproof surface control unit rated to international standard IP68 is available. This fully sealed unit will withstand emersion to a depth of one metre and is fully protected against dust ingress in any hazardous shore-based environment.

The Saab Seaeye Falcon has found success across a range of sectors including the oil and gas industry, defence, marine science, underwater tourism and hydro-engineering.

Saab Seaeye continues to lead the way in technological development and extend its lead status as the world's largest and most respected manufacturer of electrically operated ROVs. Its parent, Saab Underwater Systems is itself a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

For more information contact:

Dave Grant
Saab Seaeye Limited
+44 (0)1489 898 000

www.seaeye.com

21 March 2010

SHARK SEES MORE

Romanian-based subsea services company, Shark SRL has purchased a Saab Seaeye Panther XT electric work ROV for use with their Reson SeaBat 7125 multi-beam sonar system.

They expect to see more accurate pipeline survey results using an electric ROV rather than the acoustically noisy hydraulic work vehicles commonly employed for multi-beam survey work.

Shark Subsea will also gain considerable cost savings in space and handling, by using the compact-sized, but powerful Panther XT work ROV, rather than a much bulkier hydraulic vehicle.

It comes as a complete compact survey ROV solution with a pair of three-function hydraulic camera booms fitted with Seaeye cameras and LED lights to provide high quality video images. Also fitted is an Ixsea Octans Gyro, a Doppler Velocity Log, Sound Velocity Probe and a Digiquartz Depth Sensor.

"To get the best usable acoustic data needs an ROV that can do the job" says Reson's Rich Lear on the advantages of the Panther XT click image to enlarge   Fitted to the aft of the Panther XT is the Reson SeaBat multi-beam sonar and fibre optic gyro.

The accuracy of the SeaBat sonar, which can detect a target as small as a tennis ball, makes it ideal for high-resolution seafloor survey work. The demands of such accurate data acquisition is more than adequately met by the technological performance of the Panther XT, say top sonar manufacturer Reson.

'It's more than just about sonar,' says Reson's product lifecycle manager, Rich Lear. 'To get the best usable acoustic data needs an ROV that can do the job, with an easy bolt-on interface and the right payload.'

Working with Saab Seaeye engineers, he says, made the task of integrating the sonar system with the ROV straight-forward: 'They understand what is needed to make it all work,' he says.

For pipeline survey operations the Panther XT can operate either free-swimming with its auto altitude feature, or with a detachable wheeled skid.

For their work tasks, Shark has chosen to equip their Panther XT with a detachable five and six function heavy duty manipulator, along with an anvil cutter, rotary disc cutter, water jet and cleaning brush.

Like the SeaBat, fitting additional tooling is made straightforward by the simplicity of Saab Seaeye's innovative plug-and-go interface concept.

The Panther XT comes complete with fibre optic video and data multiplexing, an automatic pilot for depth and heading, and is given fingertip control in all directions through six brushless thrusters, each with velocity feedback.

The powerful 1500 metre rated Panther XT has evolved from the proven Panther work ROV concept and is designed to take on the majority of the tasks previously undertaken by hydraulic work ROVs, such as drill support, salvage and IRM.

Cost of ownership is significantly less. The Panther XT, for example, weighs less than a quarter of the hydraulic equivalent, and the deck space needed is 63 sq meters compared with 150 sq metres for a typical hydraulic system. A smaller launch and recovery system means it can be installed on smaller vessels and requires a smaller number of crew, with a much faster mobilisation time, typically 12 hours compared with 40 hours for a large hydraulic ROV.

The Panther XT is one of a range of ROVs from Saab Seaeye, the world's largest manufacturer of electrically operated ROVs. Its parent company, Saab Underwater Systems, is a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems, and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

Shark Subsea is the leading Romanian offshore survey, diving and ROV services company and the only member of the Diving, ROV and Survey Divisions of IMCA in the Western Black Sea area.

Reson is the world leader in the manufacture of high quality underwater acoustic systems.

For more information contact:

Dave Grant
Saab Seaeye Limited
+44 (0)1489 898 000

www.seaeye.com

01 March 2010

NEW COUGAR XTI LAUNCHED AT OCEANOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

Dual-role, deep water ROV opens new markets

A greater range of deep water applications is now possible with a new dual-role, 3000 metre-rated ROV from world leader Saab Seaeye.

Pioneering technology in the new Cougar XTi electric ROV means the vehicle can go deeper, has a smaller launch system, a thinner umbilical, clearer interface, smarter fault diagnostics, easier configuration and tighter piloting.

Managing director, Dave Grant sees the innovative new vehicle opening up a whole new market for the concept of a combined inspection and light work-ROV.

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Cougar XTi - easy to reconfigure for different operational roles.

"Operating to 3000m depth, the Cougar XTi can perform tasks independently, or in support of a construction class hydraulic ROV."

He says it also brings important cost savings in deck space with a compact, single skid solution for the launch and recovery system (LARS).

Shrinking the LARS came from a breakthrough by Saab Seaeye engineers who managed to reduce the umbilical from a typical 32mm down to 20mm. The thinner umbilical not only significantly reduces the winch drum size, but offers considerably less drag in the water in strong currents.

They achieved the reduction by boosting the voltage from 500V to 3000V with only one power line, rather than two, needed to feed the system.

The 800Hz high frequency power distribution system also cuts the size of the ROV's on-board transformer by 80% and improves the vehicle's power to weight ratio giving an 80 kg payload at 3000m.

Pilot-friendly fault management

Other innovations include a simplified man/machine interface (MMI) for easier control. It also keeps the pilot in touch with the health of the ROV and warns of potential problems.

Smart fault diagnostics gives the pilot a clear interpretation of a fault and the remedial action to be taken, including the ability to remotely isolate the failed component and keep the ROV working.

Each on board device - thrusters, lights, tools etc - is managed through an intelligent three mode distributed plug and go control system. The first mode controls the device; the second provides the diagnostics; and the third is used to channel software updates.

It is a software-driven concept that makes it quick and easy to reconfigure the vehicle for different operational roles, and changing task-specific tooling skids.

These tooling options can include manipulator packages, anvil and disc cutters, water-jetting equipment, torque tools, survey packages with camera booms, drill support and IRM tooling.

The Cougar XTi also has a new autopilot system that gives the operator more precise positioning of the vehicle by automatically holding depth and heading in much tighter parameters than ever before.

Fingertip manoeuvrability in every direction is achieved with six powerful brushless DC thrusters that give velocity feedback for precise and predictable control.

The Cougar XTi is a major upgrade of the long proven Cougar concept and includes breakthrough technology from Saab Seaeye's flagship Jaguar electric work-ROV, along with systems developed by its parent company Saab Underwater Systems for military ROV applications.

By expanding the ROV market with this innovative new concept, Saab Seaeye continues to lead the way in technological development and extend its lead status as the world's largest and most respected manufacturer of electrically operated ROVs. Parent, Saab Underwater Systems is itself a world leader in sensor systems, precision engagement systems, and remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles.

For more information contact:

Dave Grant
Saab Seaeye Limited
+44 (0)1489 898 000

www.seaeye.com