The original company, General Robotics Ltd, was founded in 1988 by Dr. David Broome and several colleagues from the Mechanical Engineering Department of University College London (UCL). The company focus was initially on the development of software controls for Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and the undertaking of a number of Ministry of Defence contracts. Early succesess included working on the now NATO-owned ROV rescue vehicle LR5 project, GRL providing the state of the art training simulator.
The early 1990s saw General Robotics become a recognised supplier to the commercial offshore oil and gas sector with the supply of manipulator control and inspection software and in the late 1990s, ROV simulation and cable release simulation software. Clients include Fugro, Sonsub, DeepOcean, CTCMarine, McDermott and WesternGeco.
GRL launched its DeepWorks simulation software suite of tools in 2008 in response to the growing demand for a simulation and visualisation toolset to support all stages of the Upstream Oil and Gas lifecycle. Following acquistion by Fugro in 2009, GRL continued to expand its client base both internally and externally. In December 2011 Fugro GRL Ltd was merged with Fugro Subsea Services Ltd and became a new technology business line within the merged entity called Robotic Technologies.
- 1988
Incorporated as a commercial offshoot from the Mechanical Engineering Department at UCL
- 1991
Current Chief Technical Officer Trevor Larkum joins the company
- 1995
Develops LR5 Submarine Rescue Training Simulator
- 1997
Awarded Neptune, FLACS, TRIADS and SPI projects
- 2002
Awarded contracts to develop ACDsim, Freelay and ASCsim
- 2004
Current Business Line Manager Dr. Jason Tisdall joins the company
- 2006
Moves to larger premises in Milton Keynes
- 2008
Expansion continues with the opening of Aberdeen office
Launches DeepWorks simulation software suite of tools
- 2009
Acquired by Fugro
Opens ROV pilot support and assessment centre in Aberdeen
-
2010
Launches DeepTouch, next-generation ROV pilot training simulator
- 2011
Expands into second unit in Milton Keynes as 3 new staff join the company
Delivers DeepCut for Platform Decommissioning
Integrates Kongsberg Vessel Simulator
FGRL becomes new Robotics Technologies Business Line within FSSL