Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult has developed a realistic simulation platform designed to accelerate the deployment of robotics and autonomous systems for offshore wind energy. According to the company, it is the first of its kind to leverage live environmental data.

The VDARE platform (Virtual Demonstration and Assessment for Robotic Environments) enables companies to test, validate, and fast track the deployment of robotics in various offshore wind settings. This includes floating wind platforms, fixed bottom turbines, and operations in ports and quays. The technology realistically replicates wind, waves, and sea conditions—such as wind speed and wave height—as well as a multi robot communication system.

According to the company, VDARE offers a variety of UK locations, and the platform can also mimic international sites by incorporating site specific environmental and operational data.

The VDARE project is funded by Innovate UK’s Smart Maritime Accelerator Fund and the OLTER project (Offshore Low Contact Energy Robotics and Autonomous Systems), part of the Net Zero Technology Transition Programme established by the Net Zero Technology Centre.

Dr Cristina García Duffy, Director of Research and Technical Capabilities at ORE Catapult, stated: “VDARE has the potential to be a tipping point in the development of new robotic solutions that drive offshore wind deployment. By creating precise and realistic marine environments to test innovative robotics, we can help speed up their commercialisation and gain valuable insights into how to overcome various technical challenges in the sector. A great deal of effort has gone into ensuring that the digital environments we have constructed faithfully reflect the real conditions that robotic devices are likely to face during the development and maintenance of offshore wind farms.”

Meanwhile, Dave Wilkes, Innovation Ecosystem Director at Innovate UK, commented: “Offshore renewable energy is fundamental in the UK’s transition to net zero. By investing in robotic systems, ORE Catapult supports the development of cutting edge technology to reach this goal and keep UK companies at the forefront of this opportunity. The work at ORE Catapult is an example of world class expertise provided by the Innovate UK Catapult network.”