Optimizing Subsea Robotics Operations Through Advanced Simulation of Subsea WiFi Coverage

Abstract The transition to fully automated inspection, maintenance, and repair operations in the subsea production system domain necessitates the development of new methodologies to ensure the accessibility and operability of autonomous underwater intervention drones (UIDs). This paper presents an innovative approach to enhancing the techniques for simulation of free-flying UIDs through the integration of 3D simulated access checks, operational experience, technology insights, and a gaming engine. This approach provides operators with improved capabilities to simulate and plan for the life cycle operations of UIDs, including navigation between tasks. Using an advanced game engine to simulate the subsea environment, including water turbidity and optical dispersion in water, the novel technique combines traditional remotely operated vehicle access study simulation with mathematical modeling of the properties of free-space optics (FSO). This gives the user a live view of not only physical vehicle accessibility to perform specified subsea intervention tasks but also a view of how the subsea WiFi communication system will enable those interventions and navigation between tasks. Among the various technologies available for subsea wireless communication, FSO offers a promising solution for high-speed communication via light propagation through free space. During the UID studies conducted as part of this development, acoustics-based communication was evaluated, and a comparison between acoustics and FSO is presented, as a key element of a subsea network. Although the simulation method and mathematical model to best represent subsea WiFi communication are still under development, the findings from these simulations offer valuable insights into optimizing network performance, reducing deployment costs, and mitigating potential risks in UID operations. By leveraging advanced simulation techniques, more robust and reliable FSO WiFi networks can be developed for subsea applications, ultimately supporting the industry's broader goal of improving the technology that enables autonomous underwater interventions.