The objective of this paper is to present the operator’s learnings in evaluating the processes by which the asset crew of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel identifies scenarios for the application of robotics in day-to-day offshore activities. The studies reveal a glimpse of the addressable market size of ground robots for routine offshore verification tasks. An initial analysis suggests that 30–50% of the theoretical equivalent of hours per year could be freed.
Introduction
In the complete paper, the hypothetical use of ground mobile robots to carry out operational activities is considered. For that goal, the capability of robotic platforms to move along an offshore facility (an FPSO, for the purposes of this paper) has been explored.