The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult has revealed what it claims is the first ‘true to life’ simulation platform for offshore wind robotics innovators in the UK.

The VDARE (Virtual Demonstration and Assessment for Robotic Environments) platform harnesses live environmental data for energy tech firms to test, validate and accelerate the deployment of their robotic solutions in a range of offshore wind environments. 

Inside this ‘virtual world’, offshore robots can be tested beside existing infrastructure like floating wind platforms, fixed bottom wind turbines, or harbour and dockside operations. 

According to its developers, the technology can realistically simulate wind, wave and sea conditions, with adjustable environmental parameters such as wind speed and wave height, and includes capacity for multi-robot communication systems.

A variety of virtual locations around the country are offered on VDARE, though the platform can also replicate international locations with the inclusion of site-specific operational and environmental data.

“VDARE has the potential to be a game changer in the development of new robotics solutions supporting the roll out of offshore wind,” said Dr Cristina Garcia-Duffy, director of research and technical capabilities at the ORE Catapult.

“A huge amount of work has gone into ensuring that the digital environments we have built are truly reflective of the real-world conditions that robotic devices are likely to face in the development and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

“By creating accurate real-world offshore environments to put innovative robotics through their paces, we can help fast-track their progression to commercialisation and gain valuable learning on how to overcome various technical challenges for the sector.”

VDARE’s capabilities have already been tested through a partnership with the unmanned surface vessel (USV) company Acua Ocean to simulate deployment of the firm’s hydrogen-powered equipment. 

The demonstration involved deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle from the Acua Ocean USV, where it successfully followed the USV autonomously and collected vital data. 

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“Working with ORE Catapult we have been able to develop a concept of operations in an operational environment such as an offshore wind farm or subsea data cables and simulate the deployment of payloads…in different sea states and weather conditions,” said Mike Tinmouth, COO at Acua Ocean.

“Whether this is the deployment of ROVs for subsea intervention work or UAS systems for aerial inspections, the VDARE platform enables us to develop a better understanding of operational requirements.”

The project has been backed by funding from Innovate UK’s Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund, alongside the Offshore Low Touch Energy Robotics and Autonomous Systems project from Aberdeen’s NZTC.  

Located within ORE Catapult’s Digital, Autonomous and Robotics Centre of Excellence, the system was developed across sites in Northumberland and Leven, Fife, and represents the first stage in a test and validation programme, which the ORE Catapult said will support robotics developers from concept to deployment.