Eelume AS Advances Snake-Like Robots for Permanent Subsea Duties

Subsea Access Challenge Met

Underwater inspection and maintenance in confined, deep-sea environments have long relied on costly surface vessels and human divers, limiting efficiency and safety. Eelume AS, a Norwegian firm spun out from NTNU in 2015, has developed the Eelume, a snake-like autonomous underwater vehicle designed for permanent subsea deployment, as demonstrated in deep-water trials since 2016 and ongoing product evolution with partners like Kongsberg Maritime and Equinor. The robot enables inspection, cleaning, and valve operations without frequent surface support.

Niche Capabilities Stand Out

Eelume differentiates through its articulated serpentine body for navigating tight spaces inaccessible to rigid ROVs, modular payloads for customized tools like grippers and torque devices, and resident operation at docking stations for 24/7 tasks regardless of weather. Its thruster-based mobility supports hovering in currents and precise maneuvers, while multi-sensor integration aids detailed mapping. Eelume prioritizes purpose-built access over broad autonomy, redefining subsea intervention economics.

Sensing to Intervention Flow

Sensor input from HD cameras, sonar, and multi-sensor suites captures environmental data during navigation via visual SLAM, inertial systems, or teleoperation. Proprietary Linux-based software processes this for path planning and obstacle detection, triggering targeted actions like gripper deployment or cleaning. Output delivers mechanical execution through the 6-DOF articulated body, ensuring collision avoidance and redundancy in propulsion.

Oil Platform Valve Turn

On an offshore oil platform at 300 meters depth, Eelume detaches from its subsea docking station, snakes through narrow pipe clusters using articulated joints and thrusters, and employs torque tools to operate a stuck choke valve. HD cameras and sonar provide real-time visuals for operators, while chemical sensors verify flow integrity post-adjustment, all without mobilizing surface ships. This completes light intervention in hours, minimizing downtime.

Specs Enable Residency

Reported dimensions of 300 x 20 cm allow passage through confined subsea structures, with weight from 70-180 kg supporting easy docking and transport. Speed up to 1 m/s (2 knots) facilitates agile inspection, backed by a 5-year battery life for long-term underwater residency. Safety features like emergency docking and redundant propulsion ensure reliable operation in demanding conditions.

Filling Intervention Niche

In the robotics landscape, Eelume carves a unique niche for lightweight, resident subsea IMR on oil/gas platforms and wind farms, bridging gaps between bulky ROVs and short-range AUVs by emphasizing serpentine flexibility and tool integration. Unlike survey-focused drones, it targets hands-on tasks like cleaning and valve handling in structured underwater settings, complementing surface operations with cost savings from reduced vessel needs. This positions Eelume as a specialist enabler for aging subsea infrastructure maintenance.

Signaling Niche Expansion

Eelume's progress indicates miscellaneous robotics shifting toward permanent, niche deployments in harsh domains, expanding from episodic interventions to continuous monitoring and repair. This trend fosters hybrid autonomy models, blending teleoperation with onboard processing to tackle manual tasks previously deemed impractical. Broader adoption could accelerate robotics into energy and defense sectors reliant on subsea assets.