Underwater Robotics Market Overview
Underwater Robotics are referred as the branch of robotics for ocean exploration and utilization. Exposed aquaculture, subsea oil & gas factories and deep sea mining are few major factors positively influencing the development of technology. Underwater Robots have the capability to travel underwater with or without the need from an operator. These robots constitute some portion of the bigger gathering of the undersea frameworks known as the unmanned submerged vehicles, a characterization which incorporates non-independent remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). In military applications, these robots are majorly known as the unmanned undersea vehicle (UUV). Submerged lightweight flyers are the subclass of the Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). It is able to perform functions such as the equipment repair, searching and recovering, the inspection, the scientific analysis, the cable-laying, surveying, searching and trenching. These robots are used for continuous oceanic surveillance.
Robots are being used extensively in the manufacturing sector. Huge developments are being made in the military and law enforcement applications by robotics, thus improving the defense infrastructure. This is positively contributing to the growth of the global market. They are designed to work in challenging environments where the safety and accessibility of divers is compromised. They are used in applications such as maritime security, underwater archaeology and marine biology and play an important role in development of offshore industry. Rising adoption of underwater technology across the world is projected to accelerate the growth of the market during the forecast period (2019-2027).
Market Size and Forecast
The underwater robotics market is anticipated to record a CAGR of around 15.65% over the forecast period. The market is segmented by type into ROV and AUV; by application into commercial exploration, defense & security, scientific research. ROV segment is projected to hold the largest market share owing to its wide application in drilling, development, repair, and maintenance operations for offshore oil and gas exploration while overcoming the limitations of human subsea divers.
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Growth Drivers
Advancement in Defense Sector
The market is attributed to the rising investments in defense sector across the world. For instance, the United States Department of Defense announced an investment of USD 600 million over the period of 2016 to 2020 for the development of variable payload unmanned undersea vehicle capabilities. The investment was majorly made by the US navy to improve intelligence, surveillance and rescue operations, acoustic surveillance, mine countermeasure and anti-submarine welfare operations. Further, it also helps in stalking the enemy ships and protecting the harbors as well as the mine sweep for improving country’s navel security. These factors are estimated to provide a conducive platform for the development of advanced robotic system and is expected to contribute significantly to the underwater robotics market revenue.
Advancement in Underwater Technologies
Traditionally, a submarine alone has been an important navigation system used for underwater surveillance. Advancements in underwater robotics have provided an additional equipment for underwater surveillance. Government across different countries are investing in this technology for advanced military applications such as intelligence, surveillance, investigation, mine countermeasure, oceanography, communication/navigation, anti-submarine warfare and others.
For instance, in July 2017, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) signed a contract of USD 4.6 Million with BAE Systems.to develop Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) to supplement manned submarines, aiding them to detect targets by sending sonar pulses. Sensors used in underwater robot has vast applications in industrial sectors. Further, research and development has helped in developing advanced imaging system which is used at low depth and can trace the enemy ship in the water. Increasing focus on innovation by DRDO for advanced defense equipment is estimated to boost the growth of market during the forecast period.
Restraints
Navigation and Communication
Navigation and communication is one of the major problem in underwater robotics operations. In underwater communication, information is transmitted using electromagnetic (EM), free-space optical (FSO) or sound waves. The use of sound waves for communication under surface water can be severely affected by surface ambient noise and temperature gradients. Electromagnetic waves do not work optimally in underwater atmosphere particularly in seawater and FSO waves are also restricted for very short distance. Further, high power is required for underwater communication and complex signal processing. Resolving the limitations such as communication and navigation issues while deploying underwater robotics is challenging, thus affecting adversely to market growth.
Market Segmentation
Our-in depth analysis of the underwater robotics market includes the following segments:
By Type
- Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROV)
- Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV)
By Application
- Commercial Exploration
- Defense & Security
- Scientific Research
By Region
On the basis of regional analysis, the underwater robotics market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa region. Asia Pacific market is anticipated to capture the largest market share in the underwater robotics market owing to increasing application of underwater robotics in defense& security and oil and gas exploration activities in countries such as China, India, South Korea and Japan. With the availability of advanced technologies and skilled manpower, Asia Pacific region is expected to hold a significant revenue share by 2027.
The underwater robotics market is further classified on the basis of region as follows:
- North America (U.S. & Canada) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
- Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Rest of Latin America) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
- Europe (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, NORDIC, Poland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
- Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia-Pacific) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis.
- Middle East and Africa (Israel, GCC (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman), North Africa, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis
Top Featured Companies Dominating the Market
- Macartney Group
- Company Overview
- Business Strategy
- Key Product Offerings
- Financial Performance
- Key Performance Indicators
- Risk Analysis
- Recent Development
- Regional Presence
- SWOT Analysis
- Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd.
- ATLAS MARIDAN Aps
- Schilling Robotics LLC
- Deep Ocean Engineering Inc.
- Saab AB
- Bluefin Robotics Corporation
- Oceaneering International Inc.
- ECA Group
- Inuktun Services Ltd.
- International Submarine Engineering
- Other Prominent Players
