HEXATERRA

The development of a modular ‘stepping locomotion’ system for installation on subsea trenching machines used for subsea energy cable burial

 Coordinatore THE UK INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE LIMITED 

 Organization address address: MIDDLE ASTON HOUSE
city: OXFORDSHIRE
postcode: OX25 5PT

contact info
Titolo: Mr.
Nome: Paul
Cognome: Tattersall
Email: send email
Telefono: +44 1664501501

 Nazionalità Coordinatore United Kingdom [UK]
 Totale costo 1˙571˙697 €
 EC contributo 1˙198˙997 €
 Programma FP7-SME
Specific Programme "Capacities": Research for the benefit of SMEs
 Code Call FP7-SME-2013
 Funding Scheme BSG-SME
 Anno di inizio 2013
 Periodo (anno-mese-giorno) 2013-09-01   -   2015-11-30

 Partecipanti

# participant  country  role  EC contrib. [€] 
1    THE UK INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE LIMITED

 Organization address address: MIDDLE ASTON HOUSE
city: OXFORDSHIRE
postcode: OX25 5PT

contact info
Titolo: Mr.
Nome: Paul
Cognome: Tattersall
Email: send email
Telefono: +44 1664501501

UK (OXFORDSHIRE) coordinator 61˙793.00
2    NEVIANA BOUMBAROVA

 Organization address address: DISTRICT MLADOST 1A BL 557 ENTR 1
city: SOFIA
postcode: 1729

contact info
Titolo: Mrs.
Nome: Neviana
Cognome: Boumbarova
Email: send email
Telefono: +359 29718098
Fax: +359 29718378

BG (SOFIA) participant 286˙961.00
3    SUALTI SISTEMLERI TEKNOLOJI GELISTIRME SANAYI TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI

 Organization address address: TUBITAK MAM MARMARA TEKNOKENT TEKNOLOJI GELISTIRME BOLGESI A BLOCK 3 GEBZE
city: KOCAELI
postcode: 41470

contact info
Titolo: Dr.
Nome: Tuncay
Cognome: Akal
Email: send email
Telefono: +90 5465121420
Fax: +90 2626446891

TR (KOCAELI) participant 286˙332.15
4    NORTON HYDRAULICS (MIDLAND) LIMITED

 Organization address address: MERIDEN STREET 43-45
city: BIRMINGHAM
postcode: B5 5LS

contact info
Titolo: Mr.
Nome: Wayne
Cognome: Hubball
Email: send email
Telefono: +44 1212308000

UK (BIRMINGHAM) participant 256˙979.00
5    TECHNOSAM SRL

 Organization address address: FAGULUI STR 35
city: SATU MARE
postcode: 440186

contact info
Titolo: Mr.
Nome: Tiberiu
Cognome: Markos
Email: send email
Telefono: +40 722380382

RO (SATU MARE) participant 209˙455.35
6    SOIL MACHINE DYNAMICS LIMITED

 Organization address address: TURBINIA WORKS DAVY BANK
city: WALLSEND TYNE AND WEAR
postcode: NE28 6UZ

contact info
Titolo: Mr.
Nome: Richard
Cognome: Howarth
Email: send email
Telefono: +44 191 234 2222

UK (WALLSEND TYNE AND WEAR) participant 75˙498.00
7    INNORA PROIGMENA TECHNOLOGIKA SYSTIMATA KAI YPIRESIES AE

 Organization address address: IOANNOY METAXA 59 KARELAS 59
city: KOROPI ATTIKIS
postcode: 19400

contact info
Titolo: Dr.
Nome: Panagiotis
Cognome: Chatzakos
Email: send email
Telefono: +30 6977467158

EL (KOROPI ATTIKIS) participant 11˙200.00
8    NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS - NTUA

 Organization address address: HEROON POLYTECHNIOU 9 ZOGRAPHOU CAMPUS
city: ATHINA
postcode: 15780

contact info
Titolo: Ms.
Nome: Georgia
Cognome: Mertzelou
Email: send email
Telefono: 302108000000
Fax: 302108000000

EL (ATHINA) participant 10˙779.00
9    AIR POWER AND HYDRAULICS LIMITED

 Organization address address: WATT ROAD - HILLINGTON PARK 15
city: GLASGOW
postcode: G52 4PQ

contact info
Titolo: Mr.
Nome: Graham
Cognome: Duff
Email: send email
Telefono: +44 1418104511

UK (GLASGOW) participant 0.00

Mappa


 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

reliability    submarine    forefront    damage    prevents    world    solution    tidal    originally    energy    water    developments    subsystem    seabed    gas    spot    offshore    problem    mix    machines    voltage    tracking    cables    terrain    locomotion    lt    desired    harsh    interface    ground    human    rock    motion       error    unburied    temperature    wind    abrasion    insurance    renewable    trenching    nets    marine    impact    modular    fishing    oil    claims    underwater    stepping    forces    turn    hexaterra    environment    machine    becoming    environmental    related    suited    snagging   

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

Offshore wind and tidal energy generation is becoming an increasingly important component of the world’s energy mix with Europe at the forefront of this technological revolution. Continued strong growth is predicted. However, a growing problem is manifesting itself within the industry.

The submarine cables that are an essential infrastructural component of offshore energy now account for 80% of insurance claims related offshore renewables. Unfortunately, current practice is to simply lay these cables on top of the seabed without burial or protection, as the traditional tracked trenching machines originally developed for deep sea oil and gas applications are inadequate for the harsh coastal terrain. Cables are therefore exposed to numerous risks such as tidal forces, rock abrasion, snagging from fishing nets etc. Furthermore, unburied HV cables present serious environmental concerns related to local habitat & water temperature.

Existing technologies cannot address this growing problem. HexaTerra will develop a novel solution to the problem that builds upon recent advances made in ‘stepping’ locomotion systems for traversing undulated harsh terrain. This system will provide a robust solution for its environment, by achieving the following objectives: modular design suited to existing trenching machines; mechanical movement subsystem with <5% error in desired motion tracking & <1cm in actual tracking error; control subsystem capable of negotiating /-0.5m 90° step in terrain & turn on-the-spot; complete simulated locomotion cycle in under 5mins, with <5% desired motion tracking error.

Using this solution the project expects to comprehensively address the problem of damage to subsea energy cables, thereby maximising offshore energy reliability, maintain renewable energy affordability, & minimise the marine environmental impact of cables. In turn, we will deliver a profit of €10.95m & 100 new high skill jobs to the SME partners after 5 years.

Introduzione (Teaser)

High-voltage submarine cables are necessary to transmit offshore wind energy. An EU-funded project is developing an innovative system that traverses the seabed to prevent their damage.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Offshore wind energy and tidal energy are becoming increasingly important parts of the world clean energy mix, with Europe being at the forefront of energy market reform. However, submarine cables are the main cause of the most frequent insurance claims against offshore wind developments. Given that the conventional trenching machines originally developed for oil and gas applications cannot penetrate the seabed, current practice involves leaving submarine cables above it.

The EU-funded project http://www.hexaterra.eu/ (HEXATERRA) is designing a modular system suited to existing trenching machines that prevents failure of unburied submarine cables. Possible threats include tidal forces, rock abrasion or snagging from fishing nets.

HEXATERRA's system is a bolt-on locomotion system for an underwater trenching machine that can move in all directions. The system automatically adapts to the terrain, keeping the trench cutting tool stable. Responding to sensor inputs, the machine distributes its weight evenly over the ground and seeks a support base for each of its six legs. Depending on ground irregularity, the machine operator can adjust both the machine ground clearance and the height of each step. It has exact step positioning and spot contact with the ground, with the ability to step over obstacles.

The user requirement and functional design specifications have been fundamental to the consortium understanding the needs of the underwater locomotion system and the human interface design.

Significant developments have taken place concerning the human-machine interface and the video overlay. Scientists focused on the relationship between the sensors on the remotely operated vehicle, the stepping platform and the user interface. This should help combine visual and sonar data, and develop a haptic feedback joystick.

Other project tasks have been to perform simulations for investigating the system's dynamic behaviour and developing various operation scenarios.

With its activities, HEXATERRA is helping maximise the reliability of renewable energy networks. Furthermore, it minimises the adverse impact of high-voltage cables on the surrounding marine environment and prevents a rise in water temperature.

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