Saipem joins forces with Italian start-up for subsea drones

Saipem has entered into a cooperation agreement with WSense, an Italian start-up, for developing complex communication networks for subsea drones.

Under the agreement, Saipem and WSense will design and qualify the so-called multi-purpose intelligent nodes to be interfaced to subsea drones engineered and operated by Sonsub, Saipem’s centre of excellence for submarine technology innovation.

Said to be a game-changer for the wireless interconnection of underwater equipment and sensors, the nodes represent the integration of diversified systems and technologies, with applications spanning over different industries, including offshore energy, infrastructures and defence.

Thanks to the subsea stations, Saipem’s resident subsea drones and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) will be able to perform autonomously a series of complex operations requiring the exchange of data for positioning and supervising subsea infrastructures, thus creating an enhanced Underwater Internet of Things (IoT).

“For Saipem, the agreement represents the strengthening of its Hydrone underwater drone programme and a further expansion of our offer, while for WSense it is the occasion to demonstrate the safety and reliability of its expertise in wireless communication networks”, Saipem said.

The company added that the network will be implemented with an environmental-friendly approach, contributing to decarbonisation.