THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2023
Advanced robotics and enterprise software company Gecko Robotics (Pittsburgh) recently announced that it has expanded its work with the United States Navy to include robotic assessments of two vessels.
For the work, Gecko will reportedly utilize its wall-climbing robots and AI-powered software platform to build digital models of the vessels to increase the speed of maintenance cycles and reduce the time Navy vessels spend in dry dock. Specifically, the robots will assess the first amphibious assault ship and an additional Arleigh Burke Class destroyer.
“We built Gecko Robotics to solve the hardest physical problems facing the world’s most important organizations,” said Jake Loosararian, CEO and Co-Founder of Gecko Robotics. “We are proud to have a mature technology that has been tested and approved by both Navy technical leaders and the sustainment officials charged with reducing the Navy’s maintenance backlog.
“The sailors of the U.S. Navy have a vital mission in an increasingly complicated geopolitical environment and Gecko stands with them to make sure they have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”
The company reports that the expansion of work follows the approval of Gecko’s Rapid Ultrasonic Gridding (RUG) process by the U.S. Navy.
Previously, the wall-climbing robots and software platform have show “impressive results” with the Navy in partnership with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) and the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC).
According to the Navy data, Gecko is “significantly” reducing the lead time and work hours associated with maintenance cycles while increasing the availability of data and finding defects missing through traditional methods.
For example, for one Navy asset, traditional methods captured 100 data points while Gecko’s platform captured more than 4.2 million. Gecko’s products also reduced the lead time required for ship rudder inspection from 11 days to one.
Gecko Robotics in Europe
In October last year, Gecko Robotics also entered a collaboration with an energy provider to provide ultrasonic robotic inspection services across Europe. According to the company's release, these advanced robotic inspections are anticipated to strengthen critical infrastructure and transform how installed equipment is inspected and maintained.
The wall-climbing robots are remote controlled and equipped with ultrasonic transducers, localization sensors, lasers and HD cameras. They can reportedly climb vertically and horizontally, adhering magnetically to an extensive range of equipment types.
These robots can then scan for changes in thickness, cracks, corrosion, blistering and other forms of degradation. The company reports that the robots include localization technology to pinpoint exact locations on an asset for accurate inspections.
According to the release, data captured by the technology produce a validated report within 24 hours. Then, inspectors can examine corrosion trends over time, predict when failures will occur and estimate when repairs will be necessary.
Due to this process and quick turnaround, Gecko Robotics states that inspectors are able to “reduce asset downtime and lost production while ensuring critical repairs are conducted with high confidence.”
The latest three-year agreement with Siemens Energy’s European Field Service organization will reportedly develop new technologies and services to better serve customers across several industries, including pulp and paper, power generation (conventional and renewable), and oil and gas.
Siemens Energy will reportedly be responsible for hiring and training local technicians and customer service personnel across Europe. This allows Gecko Robotics to efficiently deliver state-of-the-art technology while adhering to all local safety and labor regulations.
Tagged categories: Gecko Robotics; Inspection; Inspection equipment; Program/Project Management; Quality Control; Robotics; Ships and vessels; Technology; Tools & Equipment; U.S. Navy
