Greensea IQ has released an Autonomous Tether Management System (TMS) designed to maintain proper tether tension without slack and automate tether launch and recovery for inspection-class Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
Integrated with the company’s ROV autonomy software, the portable unit reduces field supervision requirements by automating tether management, allowing a single operator to manage a tethered ROV system either locally or remotely.
The TMS underwent four years of development and testing, with a prototype demonstrated to and evaluated by the U.S. Navy before its production release.
Ben Kinnaman, CEO of Greensea IQ, commented, “ROVs with autonomy software are ready to be deployed in unmanned operations, but managing the tether remains a major operational hurdle. This autonomous tether management system solves that problem. We can now deploy ROVs from unmanned assets and in unmanned configurations with complete reliability and assurance that managing the tether will not be a limiting factor. EverClean is the immediate beneficiary of this product, and it has already contributed to safer and more efficient operations.”
The system is currently deployed in support of Greensea IQ’s EverClean autonomous hull cleaning and inspection system. Consistent with the company’s open-architecture approach, the TMS can also be paired with its Safe C2 system for over-the-horizon operations, enabling crews to oversee missions remotely.
Greensea IQ plans to deploy the TMS in support of unmanned Mine Countermeasures (MCM) operations. The system is designed with flexible, portable configurations for integration into lightweight Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), supporting joint unmanned operations.
