The KRAKEN project aimed to develop a robotic arm with 7 degrees of freedom for underwater operations. This type of arm is currently unavailable in the market, requiring a high level of development in various areas. The process involved up to 31 conceptual versions of the arm, exploring a wide range of options for mechanisms and transmission chains in relation to commercially available components.
Promoters:
- WavEC Offshore Renewables Interface Center
- Instituto Superior Técnico (IST)
- ULPGC- Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- CADFEM
Challenges Addressed:
The developments carried out as part of this project have made it possible, among other things:
- Designing a new robotic arm control system using optical sensors that locate and replicate the position of the hand in space;
- Replacing divers required for a wide range of underwater operations at great depths;
- Reducing the cost and response time of underwater interventions.
Practical Benefits for Society:
The completion of the KRAKEN project delivered several key benefits, including:
- Introducing a new tool that can support future developments and actions needed in the underwater environment, benefiting a growing range of companies with marine-related activities.
