Cellula Completes CRD100 Seafloor Drill Maintenance and Upgrade Program

Cellula Robotics Ltd. has successfully completed the mid-life maintenance and upgrade to Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co., Ltd. (Fukada)’s Unicorn-1 Seafloor Drill, based on Cellula’s CRD100 Seafloor Drill. The upgrades, including improvements for increased automation and a new user interface, incorporates many lessons learnt from the last six years of offshore work, resulting in greater operational efficiency, functionality and lifespan of the drill.  

The drill arrived at Cellula in January 2022 with Factory Acceptance Testing completed May 2022. Unicorn-1 is scheduled to arrive in June 2022 to Fukada in Osaka, Japan to support their next project.

Cellula has continued to support Fukada and the CRD100 since delivery in 2014. Previous upgrades have included a high-definition camera package for landing and bore-hole monitoring and a Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) system complete with outrigger legs.

Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co., Ltd., headquartered in Osaka, Japan is involved in marine salvage, steel structure installation, offshore engineering, and other infrastructural improvement projects. FSM is currently introducing deep-sea research equipment and other cutting-edge assets to a fleet of six offshore support vessels to aggressively tackle ocean development projects. For more information, please visit the FSM website.

Cellula partners with Trusted Autonomous Systems and the Royal Australian Navy on the SeaWolf XLUUV Project

Cellula announces contract with Trusted Autonomous Systems (TAS), to develop the next generation of fuel cell powered, Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV). Funded by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and in collaboration with sovereign sub-contractors, project SeaWolf is set to debut the first 12m XLUUV hull in the fourth quarter of 2022.

To learn more, view Press Release.

Rendering showing Cellula’s Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle - SeaWolf

Cellula Awarded Contract for CRD100 SCPT Tool Upgrade

Cellula Robotics is pleased to announce a new contract with Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co., Ltd. (Fukada) for the development of a Seismic Cone Penetrometer Test (SCPT) tool for their CRD100 Seafloor Drill: Unicorn-1. This work coincides with the ongoing mid-life maintenance and upgrade for the drill.

The wireless tool will be the first of its kind to provide near real-time access to seismic data while the drill is on the seabed. Both P and S waves will be captured through a combination of pseudo and real-time measurements.  This is an upgrade to the wireless CPT tool previously supplied by Cellula for the drill.

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. Cellula has continued to support Fukada and the CRD100 since delivery in 2014.

Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co., Ltd. (FSM), headquartered in Osaka, Japan is involved in marine salvage, steel structure installation, offshore engineering, and other infrastructural improvement projects. FSM is currently introducing deep-sea research equipment and other cutting-edge assets to a fleet of six offshore support vessels to aggressively tackle ocean development projects. For more information, please visit the FSM website.

Cellula Awarded Contract for CRD100 Seafloor Drill Maintenance and Upgrade Program

Cellula Robotics is pleased to announce a new contract with Fukada Salvage & Marine Works Co., Ltd. (Fukada) for mid-life maintenance and upgrade of their CRD100 Seafloor Drill. The drill and supporting equipment arrived at the Cellula facility in Burnaby, BC in January 2022.

The maintenance and upgrade program will improve operational efficiency, functionality and lifespan of the drill and incorporates many lessons learnt from the last six years of offshore work. Upgrades include a new user interface and increased automation.

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. Cellula has continued to support Fukada and the CRD100 since delivery in 2014. Previous upgrades have included a high-definition camera package for landing and bore-hole monitoring and a Cone Penetrometer Test (CPT) system complete with outrigger legs.

Fukada Salvage and Marine Works Co., Ltd. (FSM), headquartered in Osaka, Japan is involved in marine salvage, steel structure installation, offshore engineering, and other infrastructural improvement projects. FSM is currently introducing deep-sea research equipment and other cutting-edge assets to a fleet of six offshore support vessels to aggressively tackle ocean development projects. For more information, please visit the FSM website.

Cellula Robotics Wins Manufactured Products Category at BC Export Awards

Cellula Robotics is pleased to be announced as the winner of the 2021 BC Export Awards' Manufactured Products category. This award is a recognition of Cellula’s success in developing quality products, including AUVs and seafloor drills.

British Columbia has been Cellula’s home for over 20 years - the company was founded in 2001 as a one-man consultancy and now employs over 40 employees working on seafloor robotics deployed around the world. Cellula’s fantastic mechanical and electrical engineers, software developers, project managers, quality directors, business development personnel, administrative team, and financial staff all contributed to Cellula’s status as world leaders in subsea robotics.

This award is a recognition of our success in developing quality products, including AUVs and seafloor drills. We hope to continue to do so for many years to come.

Cellula Receives Contract Extension for Hydrogen-Powered AUV Fuel Cell Module

Cellula Robotics is pleased to announce a contract extension with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to continue development on the hydrogen-powered fuel cell module built for Solus-LR.

Solus-LR was developed for Defence Research and Development Canada under the All Domain Situational Awareness Science and Technology Program. Fuel cell pool endurance tests will take place in early 2022.

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.

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.

Todd Mawhinney Named New Director of Projects for Cellula Robotics

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is pleased to announce Todd Mawhinney has been appointed Director of Projects. Todd will provide leadership and direction to the teams responsible for delivering engineered solutions and post-delivery support to our clients.

Todd has been involved in many major Cellula projects: he served as project manager for Solus-LR, Cellula's fuel cell powered long range AUV, and the build of two CRD100 Seafloor Drills, including an upgrade adding outrigger legs. He brings over 20 years of experience leading multi-discipline teams in technology, product support and operations-focused projects to the role.

“Cellula’s success is founded on talented people pulling together to do great things. With success comes growth and transformation. It is an interesting time at Cellula, and I am both pleased and excited to help our team on this next adventure.” comments Todd on his future plans as Director of Projects.

For more information on Todd's work with Solus AUVs and CRD100 Seafloor Drills, please visit our products page.

Alex Johnson Named New AUV Product Manager for Cellula Robotics

Cellula Robotics Ltd. is pleased to announce Alex Johnson, PEng, has been appointed AUV Product Manager.  Alex will be responsible for the direction, growth and development of Cellula’s AUV program, and brings 11 years of AUV-related R&D, mechanical engineering and piloting experience to the team.

Alex was involved in the first build and delivery of a commercial Solus AUV to Terradepth LLC. He also participated in development and sea trials for Solus-LR: Cellula’s fuel cell powered long range AUV.

“I am excited about the future of Cellula’s AUV product lines. We’re at the perfect moment in time to make smart decisions about their developmental path to achieve the reliability of a commercial product, while offering unparalleled modularity and customization where it counts. Our goal is to ensure Solus AUVs and Imotus HAUVs are built for the rigours of commercial operations,” comments Alex on his future plans in his new role. 

For more information on Cellula’s Solus and Imotus AUVs, please visit our products page.

Cellula Awarded Contract for AUV Design and Build

Cellula is excited to announce a new contract for the design and build of an AUV. The vehicle will be used for confined space inspections in aboveground storage tanks.

We look forward to leveraging our experiences in AUVs and subsea robotics to provide a bespoke solution for our new client.

Cellula Awarded Contract for Underwater Bio-sampler with University of Waikato

Cellula Robotics is pleased to announce a contract with the University of Waikato to design and build an underwater bio-sampler, known as the Hauwai 20. To be deployed on the seafloor under sea ice, the Hauwai 20 will collect and store up to 150 pumped filter samples per deployment. Able to run on autonomously on batteries for a year, or via a shore cable, the system is designed for long deployments in the harsh Antarctic environment.

Dr. Stephen Craig Cary, Professor in Environmental Genetics at the University of Waikato says: “Antarctic sea ice plays an essential role in sustaining the intricate food web by providing substrate for algal growth and a refuge for larvae. Climate change models are predicting a significant change in sea ice dynamics which will dramatically cadge the ecosystem. Current studies are severely limited by being able to only sample during the summer months. The Hauwai 20 will provide that critically year round monitoring and sampling capability. Physical, chemical, and biological monitoring of the underside of the sea ice and the water column will be carried out though out the year right off the beach near Scott Base, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. After a 2 year deployment, the Hauwai 20 will be moved to another location to the north, Terra Nova Bay, for a second 2 year deployment.”

The University of Waikato is funding the development of the instrument. The science is being supported by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE).