Eight Knot Partners in Autonomous Maritime Drone Project for Wind Power Management

In a significant development for maritime technology, Eight Knot, an innovative startup specializing in autonomous navigation systems for vessels, has announced its participation in a pivotal project. This initiative, backed by the Cabinet Office of Japan, aims to demonstrate the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) for the maintenance and management of offshore wind power facilities. The project, titled "Utilization Demonstration Project Using Autonomous Marine Drones and Unmanned Submersibles," is a collaborative effort involving key partners such as FullDepth, Toyo Engineering Corporation, Nippon Steel Engineering, and OKI Electric Industry.

Objectives and Methodology

As part of the project, the focus will be on the societal implementation of AUVs for underwater exploration. The upcoming demonstration will utilize ASVs and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to assess underwater data acquisition techniques relevant to future AUV operations. This will involve simulating conditions akin to floating offshore wind power facilities, demonstrating the effectiveness of automated data collection technologies.

Following the tests, the team will analyze the data to identify technical challenges while exploring data-driven maintenance and revenue models for offshore wind facilities. The ultimate goal is to draft a roadmap for the societal implementation of AUVs and other related technologies.

Use of Eight Knot Ⅰ

For the demonstration, Eight Knot will deploy its own Eight Knot Ⅰ, an ASV equipped with the Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN, their pioneering autonomous navigation platform. This compact vessel utilizes advanced artificial intelligence and robotics to autonomously navigate to destinations, avoid obstacles, and perform landing and takeoff maneuvers without human intervention. The Eight Knot Ⅰ has been instrumental in various experiments focused on autonomous navigation.

Technical Details

The demonstration will leverage the DiveUnit300, a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) manufactured by FullDepth, to conduct underwater operations. The project's operational target will be the mooring line of the measurement vessel SEATEC NEO, owned by OKI. This approach represents a critical early step towards the broader application of AUVs in marine operations, aiming to discern the potential challenges and advantages of implementing these technologies in the sector.

For additional insights into this groundbreaking project, you can refer to the linked press releases and informative resources:

About Eight Knot

Founded on March 8, 2021, Eight Knot is dedicated to advancing autonomous navigation technology primarily for small vessels. Their mission is to promote "Maritime DX" (Digital Transformation) and the robotics of marine vessels. Through the practical application of autonomous navigation, Eight Knot aims to enhance crew safety, optimize operational costs, and make this technology more accessible for everyday use. The Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN platform utilizes high-performance sensors and cameras to perceive surroundings, allowing AI to choose optimal navigation routes. With its deployments increasing across Japan, the company also plans to enter the North American market by 2027.