Cellula Awarded Imotus-1 Contract

Cellula Robotics Ltd. has been awarded a contract by Ocean Networks Canada to demonstrate subsea blue light communication, docking and charging of Cellula’s Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HAUV): Imotus-1.  The demonstration will occur by the end of 2017 in a confined space test tank.

Established in 2007 as a major initiative of the University of Victoria, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) operates world-leading ocean observatories for the advancement of science and the benefit of Canada. The observatories collect data on physical, chemical, biological, and geological aspects of the ocean over long time periods, supporting research on complex Earth processes in ways not previously possible. For more information, please visit the ONC website.

MP Terry Beech Visits Cellula to Announce BCIP Contract

Cellula Robotics Ltd. hosted Terry Beech, MP for Burnaby North-Seymour and Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard, as he announced the awarding of a Build in Canada Innovation Program (BCIP) contract to Cellula. The $612,202 contract is for two Cetor3000 Environmental Samplers which will be tested at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography prior to being used in the field.

See the press release from Public Services and Procurement Canada here.

Cellula Completes Seismometer Study and Model

Cellula Robotics Ltd. has completed a study of possible methods for deploying JAMSTEC’s Ocean Bottom Seismometers into the seabed. As part of that study, Cellula delivered a 1:5 scale model of the selected concept design as a visual tool to simulate the installation process. Further development of this concept design will ultimately lead to the production of a deployment tool that will be used with JAMSTEC’s CRD100 Seafloor Drill for deploying seismometers off the coast of Japan.

Cellula Robotics Featured in Innovation Magazine

Cellula Robotics has been featured in this month’s issue of Innovation Magazine, a publication of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC). The issue highlights exciting projects the association’s members have worked on in the past year.

This year Cellula’s highlight was the delivery of its third CRD100 Seafloor Drill to the Japanese Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC).

Read the article on p. 30 by clicking here.

CRD100 First Cruise Support Mission

Cellula Robotics Ltd. (Cellula) has successfully completed a cruise support mission on the Japanese research vessel Kaimei. This was the first drilling cruise for the JAMSTEC owned CRD100.

The primary goal of the cruise was to provide a hands-on training session for drill operations, the second was to recover any cores possible from the pillow lava rock found on the seafloor 1000 meters below the surface. The drilling took place at in Sagami Bay, Japan, where the sea bed was relatively flat and firm.

During the cruise the drill completed two dives, each to about 1000msw from which multiple high-quality H-size and 146T size core samples were recovered.

Image courtesy of JAMSTEC

Cellula Featured in UT3 Magazine

Cellula Robotics has been featured in UT3’s first 2017 issue.  

The article examines the benefits, features, and new developments of the CRD100 Seafloor Drill upon the delivery of Cellula’s third such drilling system. The article can be found here on pages 44-46.

UT3 is the online magazine of the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT), which brings together organisations and individuals with an interest in underwater technology, ocean science and offshore engineering.

Don Clarke Presenting Cetor3000 at IEEE OES Vancouver

Cellula Robotics has developed a system for autonomously sampling organisms and sediments from seawater.

Designed for deployment across multiple platforms, the sampler opens up new possibilities for investigation in previously unexplored areas. In addition to plankton, the sampler also extends its capability to bacteria-grade sampling.

The Vancouver Branch of IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society will host Cellula engineer, Don Clarke. He will discuss the challenges of meeting the stringent requirements for this system, including large sample quantity, size classification of samples, compactness, zero cross contamination and long deployment durations.

Cetor3000 – Development of a Subsea Biological Sampler

Date: March 15, 2017
Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Location: BCIT Burnaby Campus Room SW01-2019
RSVP:  IEEE Website

Cellula Receives NRC-IRAP Funding for SLAM

Cellula Robotics Ltd. (Cellula) has been successfully awarded grant funding from the National Research Council’s Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). 

The funding will go towards the development of a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) payload capabilities for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) operating in confined spaces.

Third CRD100 Successfully Completes Sea Trials

Cellula Robotics Ltd. has successfully completed sea trials of its third CRD100 seafloor drill. 

This drill was supplied to the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC). During sea trials, the CRD100 completed two dives to 2800m off the coast of Japan.

The CRD100 is a fourth generation seafloor drill designed to operate in waters down to 3000m depth for geotechnical surveys, mineral exploration and methane gas hydrates sampling.

Built on proven subsystems, the CRD100 is self-contained with a 100 HP power pack.   The CRD100 provides an unprecedented level of intelligent control that facilitates efficient core sampling and CPT pushes.  A wireline tool system further enhances the speed of operation.  The JAMSTEC CRD100, known as the BMS includes H-size and 146T tools and a custom 450mm diameter casing system.

Cellula is pleased to continue supporting JAMSTEC with offshore personnel for the first drilling cruise onboard the research vessel Kaimei in April, 2017.

Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) is an independent administrative institution whose main objective is to contribute to the advancement of academic research in addition to the improvement of marine science and technology. For more information, please visit the JAMSTEC website.

Cellula Celebrates 15 Years of Zero Lost-Time Injuries

Cellula Robotics Ltd. (Cellula) recently celebrated 15 consecutive years of zero lost-time injuries.

Achieving a milestone such as this is only achievable through the commitment and participation from all employees. The commitment from all workers and management to embrace Health and Safety as a top priority continues to further improve the program.

In spite of this impressive record, Cellula strives to raise the bar through continual improvement of its safety program. November 30, 2016, marks the successful completion of the most recent external audit of our Health and Safety Management System, and the Certificate of Recognition award by WorkSafeBC.

Cellula President, Eric Jackson, says, building an innovative health and safety management system that not only protects the well-being of employees and partners but also continues to open new markets and attract new customers is an on-going goal. A continually improving OHSMS fitted to the context of the business and designed to comply with future OHSMS standards represents a key competitive advantage for Cellula.

Congratulations to the entire team at Cellula!