Proposal of a Roadmap for Unmanned Inspection of Offshore Wind Power Facilities Using AUVs and Other Technologies

Toyo Engineering Corporation (TOYO), in collaboration with Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd. (NSE), FullDepth Co., Ltd. (FullDepth), and OKI Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (OKI), has proposed a roadmap for the social implementation of a system that automates underwater inspection tasks for offshore wind power facilities using AUVs*¹ (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) and other technologies. This roadmap outlines the future vision of underwater inspection systems using AUVs to reduce risks and achieve unmanned operations for offshore wind power facilities, which are expected to expand in the future.

This project was conducted after being selected for the "Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Utilization Demonstration Project" by the Cabinet Office's Secretariat for the Headquarters for Ocean Policy.

■ Overview of the Demonstration Test

In preparing the roadmap, a demonstration test was conducted in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in October 2025, combining ROVs*² (Remotely Operated Vehicles), ASVs*³ (Autonomous Surface Vehicles), and AUVs. During this test, inspection tasks such as video recording and sonar detection were performed on the underwater sections of the observation target*⁴. The test identified technical and operational challenges (such as inspection methods for the seabed and operational structures) toward achieving autonomous and unmanned underwater inspections.

For details on the demonstration test, please watch the PR video here: https://youtu.be/GWxvVzF5R9M

■ Proposal of a Roadmap for AUV Social Implementation

Based on the challenges identified in the demonstration test, we examined the future vision of underwater inspection systems for 2030 and 2040, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce costs for offshore wind facility inspections. Specifically, we organized the optimal deployment of marine robotics, such as a system configuration combining ASVs and AUVs for autonomous, unmanned wide-area inspections. Additionally, we established milestones for the early social implementation of AUVs by 2030, including continuous technical development, verification, and long-term implementation tests, and proposed them as a roadmap.

【Key Initiatives by TOYO】

■ Conceptual Study for Service Provider Commercialization

To commercialize maintenance and inspection services for offshore wind operators, it is essential to have a "service provider" that can consolidate the technologies and systems of various partners—including equipment developers, owners, operators, and IT service providers—to comprehensively support user decision-making and execution. In this project, we examined and organized the role, business model, and ecosystem of such a service provider, assuming maintenance and inspection operations for offshore wind projects.

■ Conceptual Study for Marine Data Utilization Infrastructure

AUV-type marine robotics are expected to serve as core assets for acquiring marine data, which is currently in short supply domestically. In this project, we proposed the construction of a "Marine Data Space*⁶" as a foundation to safely and rapidly distribute and promote the utilization of marine data obtained through these assets. Realizing this infrastructure will contribute not only to offshore wind projects but also to cross-industry data utilization in fields like fisheries and marine resource development, as well as strengthening MDA*⁷ (Maritime Domain Awareness).

■ Future Outlook

Looking toward the social implementation of AUVs around 2030, TOYO aims to create new value in the marine industry by commercializing service provider operations for offshore wind projects and building marine data utilization infrastructure that contributes to the enhancement of MDA.

【Reference Information】

Implementation Structure

This project was jointly conducted by the following four companies. Please refer to each company's website for details on their respective roles.

• TOYO: Overall project management, coordination of issues for social implementation, roadmap creation, and study of service providers/data infrastructure.
• NSE: Coordination of demonstration tests, organization of operational challenges for marine robotics, and study of service providers/data infrastructure.
• FullDepth: Provision and operation of the "DiveUnit 300 Lite" ROV, and organization of technical challenges in marine robotics development.
• OKI: Provision and operation of the "SEATEC NEO" fixed measurement barge, and organization of technical challenges in underwater infrastructure development.

Notes

*1 AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle): An unmanned submersible that operates autonomously without human intervention. The "Tri-TON" developed by the Maki Laboratory at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science was used in this test.

*2 ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle): An unmanned submersible operated remotely. FullDepth's "DiveUnit 300 Lite" was used.

*3 ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle): An unmanned vessel that navigates the water surface via autonomous control. The "Eight Knot I," equipped with the "Eight Knot AI CAPTAIN" platform, was used.

*4 Observation Target: The underwater section of the "SEATEC NEO" fixed measurement barge owned by OKI.

*5 Future Vision for 2040: An image of an inspection system around 2040 that has achieved full autonomy and unmanned operation by improving technologies and systems from the early 2030 implementation phase.

*6 Data Space: A standardized mechanism that allows for secure and reliable data sharing across different organizations, countries, and industries.

*7 MDA (Maritime Domain Awareness): Initiatives to continuously collect, integrate, and analyze information related to maritime security and usage to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation.