BluHaptics supplies a software solution to make the operation of underwater manipulator arms safer and more effective (photo: BluHaptics)

BluHaptics, the software company pioneering new technology for augmented robotics, and J2 Subsea, an Acteon company and global supplier of subsea tooling and services, have formed a sales and distribution partnership for BluHaptics’ first commercially available product – a software solution to make the operation of underwater manipulator arms safer and more effective.

As part of the agreement, J2 Subsea will leverage its global presence and subsea industry expertise for the sale, distribution, customer support and joint marketing of BluHaptics’ software solution for underwater manipulator arms. Traditionally focused on subsea tooling (hardware), J2 Subsea is incorporating BluHaptics’ software into its suite of offerings to provide customers with a higher level of control and precision in the operation of costly hardware.

“Our partnership with J2 Subsea is a strategic move that allows us to continue focusing on the development of future products with applications on land and in space, while at the same time positioning our subsea product for rapid growth,” says Luke Wissman, vice president of business development and special programs for BluHaptics. “J2 has the subsea expertise and established relationships to efficiently connect our product with the companies who will benefit the most from it.”

BluHaptics’ engineers have integrated advanced technologies – including real-time modeling, operator assistance, and force feedback – into a unified platform for semi-automatic robotic control. Featuring a virtual interface and more user-friendly controls, this new system makes it significantly easier for operators to interact with and more precisely control remote robots in fluid, unpredictable and dangerous environments. Several offshore trials are currently underway.

“Augmented robotics marries the strengths of humans and robots to achieve more together than what each could do individually,” says BluHaptics CEO Don Pickering. “As companies begin to enjoy better control, improved safety, lower costs, and more capabilities, this technology will quickly become an industry standard.”

With headquarters in Aberdeen, Scotland, and locations in Singapore and Houston, J2 Subsea has a global reach. Its work in the rental, service and repair of ROV manipulator arms, as well as the rental of ROV tooling equipment, ROV engineering and underwater survey engineering support, has earned it a reputation built on trust with key companies in the oil and gas subsea sector.

“We are looking forward to offering BluHaptics’ software. This is a leap forward in robotic control for an ROV industry standard tool and we view it as an opportunity to deliver more value to our customers,” says John Walker, director, J2 Subsea. “The software will enable increased precision, reducing the instances and intensity of damage to ROV manipulator arms during subsea operations.”

Tags: Acteon Group, BluHaptics, J2 Subsea