Rovco and Vaarst come together as Beam with first AI undersea robot
Underwater robotic system developer Rovco in Bristol in bringing back its R&D spinoff as a joint company called Beam.
Rovco in Bristol, UK, spun off Vaarst AI research division as a separate company in 2021 with 29 staff and the two are now being combined as Beam as it launches the first autonomous AI-enabled undersea robot.
Under Brian Allen, previously CEO of Vaarst, Beam will focus on remotely operated undersea AI robots for developing, building and maintaining off shore wind turbines using the AI robot.
Rovco has developed an AI system that dramatically accelerates the identification and clearance of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the North Sea. Historically, this process could take up to two and a half years, with marine surveyors meticulously analysing seabed surveys. Today, thanks to our AI-driven technology, this timeline has been reduced to just two-to-three months. But the impact of AI goes far beyond UXO clearance.
Beam’s AI-powered vehicle offers fully autonomous operation, allowing data to be streamed directly back to shore. This shift enables offshore workers to focus on more complex tasks and reduces inspection timelines by up to 50%, cutting operational costs substantially. In addition to improving efficiency, Beam’s technology also enhances the quality of inspection data and enables the creation of 3D reconstructions of assets alongside visual data.
The company is set to roll out this AI-driven solution across its fleet of DP2 vessels, ROVs, and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) throughout 2025 and 2026.
“We are very proud to have succeeded in deploying the world’s first autonomous underwater vehicle driven by AI. Automation can revolutionise how we carry out inspection and maintenance of offshore wind farms, helping to reduce both costs and timelines,” said Allen.
“Looking ahead to the future, the potential of this technology is huge for the industry, and success in these initial projects is vital for us to progress and realise this vision. This wouldn’t be possible without forward-thinking customers like SSE Renewables who are willing to go on the journey with us.”
Seagreen wind farm, operational since October 2023, is the world’s deepest fixed-bottom offshore wind farm. Beam’s project at Seagreen has yielded critical insights into the potential of autonomous technology for large offshore wind superstructures. The data gathered by Beam’s AI-driven vehicle will support ongoing operational reliability at the site, offering valuable information on areas such as marine growth and potential erosion at the foundations.
This is also key for tackling the skills shortage says Beam.
An engineer partnered with artificial intelligence completes exponentially more work than they can alone. Unsupervised autonomy transforms the role of the driver of one vehicle into the caretaker of an autonomous fleet.
The AI technology allows for more efficient processing and analysis of large volumes of data, enabling teams to accomplish more with the same resources.
“We need to see significant technology advancements that cut costs, shorten project time and improve processes across the entire lifecycle of offshore wind farms if we are to come close to meeting global goals. Whether its surveys for site preparation, critical undersea operational projects, or oil field decommissioning, our combination of AI, rich data and robotics is transforming what’s possible in offshore wind by automating and accelerating processes, bringing immediate time and cost savings,” said Beam.
“Autonomous robotics are the key to reducing the cost of offshore operations. At the same time, digitalisation of field assets is essential as the industry evolves, marrying these two concepts is needed to realise the real benefit of modern tech. It’s the data that has to drive the vehicles. Vaarst is committed to unlocking the potential of offshore robotics for all,” said Allen.
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