Proposal of a Roadmap for the Practical Application of Underwater Unmanned Inspection Systems for Offshore Wind Power Facilities

Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd. (NSE), in collaboration with Toyo Engineering Corporation (TOYO), FullDepth Co., Ltd. (FullDepth), and Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (OKI), announces the proposal of a roadmap for the practical application of systems that automate underwater inspection tasks for offshore wind power facilities using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and other technologies, as part of the 'AUV Utilization Demonstration Project' in which the four companies participated.

Overview of the Demonstration Test

In creating this roadmap, the companies conducted a demonstration test in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in October 2025, proceeding with multifaceted considerations based on the commercialization of underwater unmanned inspection systems. Through demonstration tests involving underwater unmanned inspections using image capture (monitoring and recording) and sonar (acoustic exploration) of observation targets, utilizing a combination of AUVs, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), and Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs), the companies identified technical and operational challenges for the future autonomy and unmanned operation of underwater inspection tasks.

(For details on the demonstration test, please watch this PR video.)

Proposal of a Roadmap for AUV Social Implementation

Based on the findings from the demonstration test, the companies examined the optimal deployment of marine robotics, including system configurations that enable autonomous and unmanned wide-area underwater inspection by combining AUVs and ASVs. Furthermore, envisioning the future of underwater unmanned inspection tasks in 2030 and 2040, the companies organized milestones for early social implementation—such as continuous technical development, verification, and long-term implementation tests—and proposed them as a roadmap leading up to 2030.

Key Initiatives by Nippon Steel Engineering

1. Conceptual Study for Commercializing Maintenance and Inspection Services

To commercialize maintenance and inspection services for offshore wind power operators, it is essential to have a 'service provider' that provides comprehensive services, covering not only technical capabilities in marine robotics like AUVs, but also the ownership and management of inspection equipment, the training and arrangement of equipment operators and technicians, and the securing of ICT-related services. In this project, the roles, business models, and ecosystems of such service providers were examined and organized, assuming maintenance and inspection tasks for offshore wind power facilities.

2. Conceptual Study of Marine Data Utilization Infrastructure

Marine robotics such as AUVs are expected to serve as core assets for acquiring marine data, which is currently in short supply domestically. In this project, the companies proposed the construction of a 'Marine Data Space' as an infrastructure to promote the safe and rapid sharing and utilization of marine data obtained through these assets, and conducted technical and operational studies. The realization of this infrastructure is expected to contribute to the utilization of marine data in diverse fields beyond offshore wind power, such as fisheries and marine resource development, as well as to the strengthening of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

Future Outlook

Looking toward the practical application of systems that automate underwater inspection tasks for offshore wind power facilities using AUVs around 2030, the company aims to create new value related to offshore wind power through the commercialization of maintenance and inspection services for operators and the construction of marine data utilization infrastructure that contributes to the strengthening of MDA.