Case Histories Using our proprietary, physics based technology, GRL has an eighteen year track record of delivering quality services and products to customers on time.   MATIS, a complex remote pipeline tie-in system owned by Stolt Offshore Ltd, required an improved means to train operators. GRL created a bespoke software simulator, in just three months, which enabled the full range of real tasks (such as bolt tensioning) to be performed in an “as real” environment. Operators trained on the software outperformed those trained on hardware alone. Cable Modelling. GRL has been at the forefront of developing innovative new means of modelling complex, hydrodynamic cable, chain and tether behaviours. This image shows a simple net, dynamically modelled, whilst towed at 2 m/s. We use a new methodology to cope, in real time, with both elastic and stiff cables. Currently, confidentiality means we are unable to disclose our client list, but core function includes collision detection, friction, 3D current models and active winches. Full Field Subsea Simulators. GRL has developed advanced prototypes to meet specifications by BP, Stolt Offshore and others. Consequently, GRL has a broad spectrum of proven solution elements that combine to give advanced control, visualisation and simulation of subsea environments. ROV Simulator. GRL has implemented advanced systems to meet specifications by Thales, Sonsub, AMS and others. Our ROVolution system permits a large range of integrated function including collision detection, environment, simulation replay, 3D graphics with full fly-through, realistic hydrodynamics, TMS and tether models and sonar. 2D SONAR Simulation. As part of our ROV simulator programme, GRL has developed fully functioning sonar modelling. The underlying model is based on physical properties of the acoustic waves and can be readily applied to any acoustic system. In our implementation, GRL also integrated to standard Tritech Seaking hardware enabling this to drive the controls i.e. changing signal frequency, range, resolution etc. FLACS, a UK defence project in conjunction with University College London, developed accurate submarine hydrodynamic models to enable the following: Safe planning of where to mount objects on the external hull of a Trafalgar class submarine. Fluid pumping for live trim simulation. Submarine Rescue. The LR5 and LR7 (shown) are submarine rescue vehicles developed by Perry Slingsby. The LR5 was famously part of the attempt to rescue the doomed crew of the Russian Kursk. Pilot training for the LR5 was conducted on a hydrodynamic simulator developed by GRL. In training mode, the simulator is driven using the real vehicle control panel. Prototypes have been developed for Perry Slingsby, Oceanworks and the Singapore Navy. 3D SONAR. As part of the ARROV European research initiative, GRL was the architect of a distributed network for displaying complex 3D images. As sytem integrators, GRL brought together the CodaOctopus Echoscope 3D sonar system and advanced data processing capability from the University of Verona. Significantly, the distributed network architecture allows multiple users to access the data time-independently i.e. one viewer pauses or scrolls back through the data, while data processing is still running in real time on another machine. SEWERCAT. In the sewers of Sydney, Australia, years of accumulated debris created a deadly environment unsafe for a human to enter. To clean these sewers required a reliable and robust remote cleaning tool. GRL developed the control and visualisation system to track and drive a tracked ROV developed by Covus Inc. This resulted in the successful cleaning of 10’s of kilometres of sewer. ARM NICS. The Alpha platform in the Australian North Rankin field required weld inspections on a number of key subsea nodes. The ARM NICS system not only enabled the inspections to be planned on-shore (resulting in optimal ROV placement), but once on site, was used as the control interface to drive the inspection tool along the pre-planned paths. The result was a rapid completion of a large inspection job. Automated Wet Welding. Drawing on our experience in the field of advanced robotic control in subsea environments, GRL was the natural choice to develop the planning and control software for wet welding trials. Funded by Amerada Hess, these trials at the National Hyperbaric Centre gave high quality results. “Toughness tests showed results similar to those published by the Paton Institute and indicate improvement over diver deployed Manual Metal Arc (MMA).”