Cellula Staff Receives Individual Safety Champion Award

Thomas Deaton, Junior Electrical Engineer at Cellula, has received the Individual Safety Champion award in the “Heavy Equipment, Machinery, or Parts Manufacture or Installation” category by the BC CSSE/NAOSH. The award was presented at the BC CSSE/NAOSH Week Safety Forum and Awards Dinner on November 28th in Burnaby, BC.

While on the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), Thomas has consistently shown leadership and initiative, which has been instrumental to the continuous improvement of our Health and Safety Program. As a certified ISO 45001:2018 internal auditor, he will be supporting Cellula's efforts to self-certify in 2020.

Cellula Awarded Contract for CRD100 Large Diameter Drilling Upgrade

Cellula Robotics has been awarded a contract with the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) through Fukada Salvage and Marine Co Ltd, for the design and delivery of a large diameter drilling upgrade to the Boring Machine System (based on Cellula’s CRD100 Seafloor Drill) delivered in 2016.  This project will enable a 200mm diameter bore hole to be drilled to at least 20 meters below mudline.

All equipment will be supplied in 2019 and integrated for a demonstration mission in February 2020.

Successful Completion of IDEaS Project: Deployable Battery Station for UUV Mission Extension

Cellula Robotics Ltd. has successfully completed the “Deployable Battery Station for UUV Mission Extension” project under the IDEaS program challenge of Persistent Maritime Surveillance. The project demonstrated that the latest generation of AGM batteries can be charged and discharged in oil and under pressure, providing a low cost and safe method of storing significant amounts of energy subsea.

This deployable battery station is an important enabling technology for reducing the risks to personnel conducting maritime monitoring operations along Canada’s diverse coastline. Applications range from UUV recharging to powering scientific observation and surveillance equipment long-term.

STEMM-CCS CO2 Injection Skid Successfully Deployed

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is pleased to announce the deployment of the CO2 Injection Skid for the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)’s STEMM-CCS program in the North Sea Goldeneye field. Cellula team members provided offshore support during the operation.  During the deployment, a 7m long curved pipe was successfully inserted into the seabed. Click here for further updates on the deployment.

The project leveraged Cellula’s experience with seafloor geotechnical drills and remotely operated subsea equipment to provide a bespoke solution to NOC. Cellula has a track record of rapidly developing complex hydraulic subsea robotic systems that have all been completed under the control and oversight of our ISO 9001:2015 certificated Quality Management System.

STEMM-CCS is an ambitious multi-disciplinary project that will deliver new approaches, methodologies and tools for the safe operation of offshore carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) sites. CCS is a powerful mitigation strategy for addressing the increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The storage of CO2 in underground reservoirs, for example in depleted oil and gas fields or aquifers, is a demonstrated technology on land and - to a more limited extent - in marine systems. STEMM-CCS will develop approaches to help ensure we select appropriate marine storage sites and can monitor them effectively, thus further increasing confidence in CCS as a viable option for reducing atmospheric CO2. For more information, please visit the programme website.

Successful Completion of IDEaS Project: Collaboration of Multi-domain Marine Robots

Cellula Robotics Ltd. (Cellula) has successfully completed a Collaboration of Robotic Systems challenge under the IDEaS program with the Integrated Systems Laboratory at the University of Dalhousie.

The multi-domain marine robots were mobilized in March 2019 to test and tune the collaborative mission in the Aquatron pool facility in Halifax. This included Cellula’s Imotus hovering UUV and a surface and aerial drone from Dalhousie University. Successful imagery of different test targets from above and below the water surface were obtained and merged through post-processing. These tests were a progression from the completion of the first milestone in December, where simulations of the mission were run for a team of robots.

This multi-domain marine robot collaboration is an important enabling technology for improving safety in maritime interdiction operation capabilities within Canada. With the collaborative approach, above and below water imagery for items of interest can be autonomously gathered and relayed to a control station over the horizon.

Cellula Awarded Contract for CRD100 HD Camera Upgrade

Cellula has been awarded a contract from Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co., Ltd. to design and build a High Definition (HD) Camera Upgrade for the CRD100 Seafloor Drill delivered in 2014, known as Unicorn-1. The upgrade includes a new HD camera, pan/tilt unit, multiple lights, a control canister and a deployable camera mount. The HD camera upgrade will provide improved imaging for landing and borehole monitoring during drilling.

The upgrade package will be delivered in August 2019 and installed on Unicorn-1 by Cellula engineers in Japan ahead of a multi-month drilling campaign.

Factory Testing Completed for STEMM-CCS CO2 Injection Skid

Cellula Robotics Ltd. has successfully completed factory acceptance testing for the CO2 Injection Skid for the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)’s STEMM-CCS program.

The skid is designed to install and leave a 7m long curved pipe in the seafloor via a diffuser to enable the controlled release of CO2. Click here for an animation of the Skid’s function. It will be used to test the effectiveness of technologies and techniques by STEMM-CCS partners for the detection and quantification of CO2. In May 2019, Cellula will be providing offshore support in the North Sea during the deployment process as part of the STEMM-CCS project.

The project leverages Cellula’s experience with seafloor geotechnical drills and remotely operated subsea equipment to provide a bespoke solution to NOC. Cellula has a track record of rapidly developing complex hydraulic subsea robotic systems that have all been completed under the control and oversight of our ISO 9001:2015 certificated Quality Management System (QMS).

STEMM-CCS is an ambitious multi-disciplinary project that will deliver new approaches, methodologies and tools for the safe operation of offshore carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) sites. CCS is a powerful mitigation strategy for addressing the increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The storage of CO2 in underground reservoirs, for example in depleted oil and gas fields or aquifers, is a demonstrated technology on land and - to a more limited extent - in marine systems. STEMM-CCS will develop approaches to help ensure we select appropriate marine storage sites and can monitor them effectively, thus further increasing confidence in CCS as a viable option for reducing atmospheric CO2. For more information, please visit the programme website.

Cellula Awarded Two Contracts for DND IDEaS Program

Cellula Robotics Ltd. has been awarded two contracts under the Canada’s Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program.

For the Persistent Maritime Surveillance challenge, Cellula is funded to test a candidate battery technology for a Deployable Battery Station (DBS) to support Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) mission extensions. The DBS will ultimately provide megawatt-hour subsea storage capacity for long term deployments enabling UUVs to recharge without being recovered.

Under the Collaboration of Robotics Systems challenge, Cellula has teamed with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Engineering to demonstrate a team of marine robots imaging a target from below and above to create a complete 3D model.  The project includes Cellula’s Imotus hovering UUV below the water with surface and aerial drones from Dalhousie University.  Ultimately, this technology can be used to assess over the horizon targets before manned interdiction operations.

Announced in Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged (June, 2017), DND introduced the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program to improve DND’s access to the creative potential of Canadian innovators to build defence capability and economic impact. The program supports the formation of an innovation ecosystem from the early stages of an idea, creates awareness of defence and security challenges and mobilizes innovators to develop prototypes and capabilities for defence and security capabilities.

Cellula Awarded Next Phase of Long Range UUV Contract

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is pleased to announce the approval to proceed with phase 3 of a contract by Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Department of National Defence’s (DND) science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), under the All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) Science & Technology (S&T) Program. Under Phase 3, Cellula will develop and build a long range Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV).  The UUV will incorporate a fuel cell power pack and suction anchor.  Known as Solus-LR, the UUV will have a target range of 2000 km and is designed to stay submerged for multi-month missions.

Eric Jackson, President of Cellula, explains “This S&T program will showcase Cellula’s advanced UUV research and development, combining traditional technologies with innovative power and anchoring solutions.  With Solus-LR able to travel for thousands of kilometers, port to port missions will become a feasible lower-cost alternative to vessel-based operations.”

Cellula has recently completed the Solus-LR preliminary design review and is proceeding with the critical design phase.  Technology and lessons learnt from the previously announced Fuel Cell and Suction Anchor phases will be further developed and implemented in this project.

The design phase will continue into early 2019 followed by the build and factory testing.  Sea trials and a capabilities demonstration in Indian Arm, British Columbia, will be concluded by April 2020.

Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is the national leader in defence and security science and technology. DRDC provides the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments as well as the public safety and national security communities, the knowledge and technological advantage needed to defend and protect Canada’s interests at home and abroad. For more information, please visit DRDC’s website: http://www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca. Read their press release here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/04/government-of-canada-announces-contract-award-to-cellula-robotics-ltd-for-research-and-development-in-support-of-sub-surface-surveillance-in-arctic.html.

All Domain Situational Awareness (ADSA) S&T Program

Through an investment of up to $133 million over five years, through to 2020, in the ADSA S&T Program, DND is supporting a variety of innovative research and analysis projects, the outcomes of which are expected to contribute to the development of options for enhanced domain awareness of air, maritime surface and sub-surface approaches to Canada, in particular those in the Arctic. This research and analysis will be delivered through collaboration with other government departments, academia, industry and allies. Surveillance solutions explored and potentially selected will strengthen the Government of Canada’s ability to exercise sovereignty in the North, and will provide a greater whole-of-government awareness of safety and security issues, as well as transportation and commercial activity in Canada’s Arctic.

Cellula Awarded Contract for ROV Suction Sampler

Cellula Robotics Ltd. (Cellula) has been awarded a contract by K-Offshore, a subsidiary of Korea Offshore Company Ltd., to supply a Suction Sampler for integration onto the 6000m Hemire Remotely Operated Vehicle owned by the Korean Institute of Ocean Science & Technology.  The ROV Suction Sampler will be delivered in December, 2018.