With federal funding of around 10 million euros, the FORE-PAIR consortium project will start developing autonomous robotic technologies for the inspection, maintenance and cleaning of floating offshore energy platforms, such as floating wind and solar energy systems.
Offshore inspection and maintenance face a number of crucial challenges. Demanding environmental conditions such as strong currents, biofouling, corrosion and limited visibility significantly complicate accurate underwater operations. At the same time, inspections by divers are costly and involve significant risks, further increasing the need for automated alternatives.
Lack of proven technologies
There is still a lack of standardised and proven technologies for autonomous underwater inspections. This means that many processes still rely on manual work or extensive logistics. As a result, the demand for data, simulation and inspection systems that reliably collect, digitally display and efficiently evaluate information is steadily increasing.
Collaboration
To effectively address these complex challenges, leading research institutions and industrial partners are joining forces in the FORE-PAIR project. The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) and Rosenxt as a technology group are combining scientific expertise, years of offshore experience and cutting-edge technological development to create new solutions that will make underwater inspection, maintenance and cleaning safer, more efficient and sustainable.
Inspection, maintenance and cleaning of floating energy platforms
The project aims to develop technologies that fundamentally improve the inspection, maintenance and cleaning of floating offshore energy platforms. This includes autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of reliably assessing the support structures of offshore energy platforms, even at greater depths and under difficult conditions, such as strong currents or limited visibility.
Mapping condition of energy platforms
High-resolution 3D detection systems and digital twins map the condition of energy platforms in real time. They automatically detect changes and support data-driven maintenance decisions. In addition, sustainable protection solutions are being explored to reduce fouling and extend the life of assets. AR/VR-enabled tools are also being developed, allowing maintenance staff to simulate operations in the digital twin, optimise workflows and efficiently prepare inspection scenarios.
Ensuring safety and longevity
The importance of the project is underlined by the participating partners. Özlem Özcan, expert in material and surface technologies at BAM, explains: "Reliable assessment of material condition under extreme environmental conditions is an important factor in ensuring the safety and service life of offshore energy platforms. With FORE-PAIR, we are laying the foundation for integrating advanced inspection and testing technologies into a fully autonomous system and setting new standards for the operation of such installations."
Reliable assessment of material condition under extreme environmental conditions is a key factor in ensuring the safety and longevity of offshore energy platformsÖzlem Özcan, expert in material and surface technologies at BAM
Potential
Fraunhofer IFAM also highlights the project's potential: "Future offshore energy platforms require robust, automatable and sustainable solutions - from reliable repair processes to innovative protection technologies. FORE-PAIR offers a unique opportunity to bring together our expertise in adhesive bonding, surface technologies, cyber-physical quality assurance and mobile robotic systems to develop practical applications for the maritime industry," says Tim Heusinger von Waldegge, project manager at Fraunhofer IFAM.
Implemenetation
From the perspective of industry partner Rosenxt, the focus is on transferring the technologies to real operational environments, as Dr Peter Kampmann, head of Maritime Robotics, emphasises: "As a technology-driven company specialising in operations in demanding environments, we see FORE-PAIR as an important step forward for the offshore energy sector. The funding allows us to use our technical expertise to develop market-ready solutions that make inspection, maintenance and cleaning at sea safer, more efficient and more sustainable."
Project duration
The project, which runs until 2029, is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and supported under the maritime research programme by Project Management Jülich (PtJ).
Source: Fraunhofer IFAM
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