Image credit : BeeX

The urgent need for autonomous technology in maritime operations is underscored by its ability to enhance safety, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency. By eliminating the risks associated with human divers and providing access to challenging underwater environments, autonomous vehicles like those developed by BeeX and Avetics Global who we have written about previously, represent a transformative solution for inspecting and managing underwater assets.

BeeX is an innovative company specializing in Autonomous Robotics-as-a-Service (ARaaS), particularly focused on enhancing underwater asset integrity. By combining advanced robotics with data analytics, BeeX aims to revolutionize how underwater inspections and assessments are conducted, providing significant benefits to the maritime industry with products that allow previously resource-intensive procedures to be carried out at scale.

BeeX was founded in 2018 by researchers Grace Chia and Goh Eng Wei, a deeptech spin-off from the National University of Singapore (NUS). The company has created emission-free autonomous underwater robotics technologies for clients in the energy, defense, and maritime industries. It integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and proprietary software to support asset maintenance and regulatory compliance. Trusted by National Parks, Sunseap, JTC, Shell, Nordsee One, The Singapore Ministry of Defense, Yacht Club, Barramundi group, BeeX is now a leader in autonomous robotics systems for protecting undersea infrastructure.

A financing round lead by Earth Venture Capital and ShipsFocus Ventures generated US$2 million in funding for BeeX. The business plans to utilize the money to accelerate its attempts to bring autonomous offshore wind farm inspections to the European market. Additional investors include NUS Technology Holdings, Infinita VC, and SeedS Capital, the investment division of Enterprise Singapore.

Similar to a self-driving automobile, the BeeX vehicle is an autonomous underwater vehicle that has the ability to hover in water. Its objective is to collect and record crucial data regarding marine and underwater infrastructure. Because of its learning brain, the bot can learn about its surroundings and provide datasets that give asset owners affordable underwater structure analysis. Compared to older methods, this strategy is less complicated to operate and more economical. Coastal protection, aquaculture, internet cables, energy sources, and maritime shipowners that transport commodities are just a few of the sectors that can make use of the BeeX vehicle.

BeeX’s technologies have broad applications across multiple sectors within the maritime industry:

• Oil and Gas: Regular inspections of underwater pipelines and structures ensure integrity and compliance with safety regulations.
• Marine Research: Providing researchers with tools for studying marine environments without disturbing ecosystems.
• Infrastructure Monitoring: Assessing the condition of underwater infrastructure such as bridges, dams, and ports.

But for now, the company has targeted the renewable energy industry as its primary focus, thanks to the sector’s extensive network of floating solar panels and offshore wind farms.

Case Studies In Maritime

3D Point Cloud Visualisation of inspection with Depth Colorations
Image credit : BeeX

The case study on Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) inspections using BeeX’s Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) highlights an effective solution to overcome the limitations of traditional diver-based inspection methods. Conventional methods often face various challenges, including depth restrictions, safety concerns, and low operational efficiency. By employing the AUV, BeeX can conduct thorough inspections without the risks associated with human divers. The AUV is capable of operating at greater depths and in challenging environmental conditions, significantly reducing inspection time and costs. Additionally, this technology enhances the reliability and accuracy of inspection data, providing better information for decision-making.

The Hovering AUV was also trialed for an underwater asset inspection during which it presented real-time data to users while steadily combating currents of 1.5 knots, much to the stakeholder’s surprise. In a fantastic achievement, BeeX finished the job scope in two hours, which was seen as a significant improvement on productivity because divers would have needed more time in such conditions. The data, which included geo-referenced and layered visual and 3D sonar data, gave a thorough perspective of the structural integrity of the asset. All of the data was accessible to the client for evaluation on its web portal shortly after implementation.

These successful trials point to the potential for AUVs to play a significant role in the maritime industry moving forward. As more resources are directed into this sector, we expect to see more innovations in the pipeline that will contribute to improved safety and efficiency in the industry.

References

User. (2024, June 3). Home – BeeX. BeeX. https://beex.sg/

Ocean News. (2023, May 11). Ocean News – From Singapore to the Gulf Coast: BeeX Takes the Plunge with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. https://oceannews.com/news/subsea-and-survey/from-singapore-to-the-gulf-coast-beex-takes-the-plunge-with-autonomous-underwater-vehicles/

Tech in Asia. (n.d.). Tech in Asia – Connecting Asia’s startup ecosystem. https://www.techinasia.com/sg-maker-selfdriving-underwater-robots-beex-bags-2m

User. (2024b, December 9). A.IKANBILIS Delivers Unparalleled Efficiency on Single Mooring Buoy Inspection – BeeX. BeeX. https://beex.sg/case-studies/single-buoy-mooring-inspections-beex-auv-solves-diver-limitations/

Contributor: Ariana Tri Asti
Reviewer : Imam Buchari