Abstract

The PLaCE project aims at investigating technologies and solutions for the eco-sustainable reuse of offshore platforms at the end of their production phase. In this context, robotic mobile solutions that allow in a versatile way to monitor the activities by acquiring environmental data and parameters in the area of interest have been explored.

This paper presents a new solution based on the development of the proof-of-concept of a robotic technology concerning a hybrid Autonomous / Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (A/RPAS), hereinafter referred to as Amphibious Drone, operating in complete autonomy and having offshore platform as an operational base. The Amphibious Drone is developed to cover the entire area of interest surrounding the platform being converted, with the ability to perform measurements and observations of the sea surface during aerial overflight as well as to measure the main physical, chemical and biological parameters along the water column by the deployment of sensor equipped probes for measuring underwater when it lands on the sea surface. To do so, a wide range of probes and instruments have been integrated into the system such as multispectral camera, Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), Conductivity-Temperature-Depth (CTD). The whole management of the Amphibious Drone, as regards the shelter between missions, battery recharging, data exchange, required reconfigurations and missions scheduling is performed by a specific designed Docking Station. The PLaCE project is co-funded by the European Union within the National Operational Programme for ‘‘Research and Innovation’’ 2014-2020.

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