Nauticus Robotics and SeaTrepid team up to advance ROV capabilities 

U.S.-based developer of subsea autonomous robotic systems and software Nauticus Robotics has entered a strategic collaboration with applied robotic solutions provider SeaTrepid International to install and test its software on one of SeaTrepid’s remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), aiming to enhance autonomous subsea operations.

According to Nauticus Robotics, the partnership will see the company grant a perpetual license for its ToolKITT software, while SeaTrepid will provide access to its facilities and workforce to support certification and pool testing.

The partnership is expected to bolster SeaTrepid’s ROV services, with Nauticus securing recurring annual software maintenance revenues after deployment. The initial focus of the collaboration is integrating ToolKITT’s automatic station-keeping capability, expected to stabilize the ROV during underwater tasks. 

This feature is said to reduce operator workload and increase precision during subsea operations. Additional advanced capabilities from ToolKITT are planned for phased rollout following the deployment of the initial feature.

“We are thrilled to work with Bob Christ and the team at SeaTrepid. Together, we aim to revolutionize subsea operations by advancing autonomous ROV capabilities,” said John Gibson, CEO and President of Nauticus Robotics.

“By equipping SeaTrepid’s ROVs with ToolKITT, we can deliver significant efficiency gains, including reduced CO2 emissions, faster mission completion times, and fewer operator-related delays. This collaboration represents an exciting entry point for ToolKITT into the broader ROV market, building on its recent success on the Aquanaut Mark 2 vehicle earlier this year.”

According to Nauticus, the collaboration aligns with industry efforts to accelerate the adoption of augmented autonomy within the subsea robotics sector. By leveraging existing ROV infrastructure, the initiative is also expected to create cross-training opportunities for both teams.

SeaTrepid’s CEO, Bob Christ, added: “This collaboration with Nauticus allows us to integrate cutting-edge software into our fleet, paving the way for SeaTrepid to become the first autonomous ROV service provider. We’re excited about the opportunities this technology presents for transforming subsea operations and look forward to delivering enhanced capabilities to our clients.”

In addition to the collaboration with SeaTrepid, Nauticus recently wrapped up a project in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The company performed a subsea field inspection using its flagship autonomous vehicle, Aquanaut Mark 2, for what is described as a “second global supermajor oil and gas company”.

The project involved multiple days of visual subsea asset inspections and was designed to validate Nauticus’ technology against the client’s subsea technology roadmap. Discussions are underway for potential projects in 2025, the company said.

The confirmation about a subsea field inspection work with a second oil and gas player follows Nauticus Robotics’ announcement from November 2024 about the completion of its initial 2024 GOM survey scope for the UK’s energy giant Shell, carried out autonomously without a tether.

The commercial operations of Nauticus Robotics’ flagship underwater vehicle Aquanaut Mark 2 commenced in October, following the completion of qualification testing. The U.S. subsea developer entered into a partnership with the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for the testing of Aquanaut Mark 2 in August. 

Gibson added: “Our mutual goal is the enhancement of decision-making while minimizing environmental impact. By deploying autonomous technology, we can materially reduce daily diesel fuel consumption and associated emissions for each Aquanaut in operation.”

At the beginning of the year, Nauticus secured over $12 million in funding, part of a second tranche of investment, to execute 2024 goals, including augmented autonomy for subsea robots. The aim of the investment is to expedite the certification of the Aquanaut robot.