2025

Operations and maintenance (O&M) of offshore wind turbines are complex, costly, and risky, requiring specialised vessels and equipment to handle harsh maritime conditions. Technicians and divers face significant safety hazards, and planning must account for failures and weather. Drones and autonomous systems offer a safer, more efficient alternative, but they still require complex prototyping before deployment. Simulation provides a way to model and validate solutions beforehand, reducing risks and costs. The project LOTUSim-Energy proposes the first cross-domain (air, surface, underwater) maritime simulation platform for testing and validating autonomous O&M processes. It will allow simulation of various offshore wind turbine locations, drone behaviours, and weather conditions for scenario experimentation and anomaly detection. 

Partners: IRL Crossing, Naval Group, Swinburne University of Technology, Université Grenoble Alpes