Proposed a Roadmap for Unmanned Inspection of Offshore Wind Power Generation Facilities Using AUVs, etc.
Toyo Engineering, along with three other companies including Nippon Steel Engineering, has proposed a roadmap toward the social implementation of a system that automates underwater inspections of offshore wind farms using AUVs and ASVs. They aim for implementation by 2030 based on the challenges identified in demonstration tests.
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- 📰 Published: March 30, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: March 30, 2026 at 22:56 (2h 56m after Published)
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Toyo Engineering Corporation (President and CEO: Eiji Hosoi, hereinafter TOYO), in collaboration with Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Yukito Ishiwa, hereinafter NSE), FullDepth Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Satoshi Yoshiga, hereinafter FullDepth), and Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Takahiro Mori, hereinafter OKI), has proposed a roadmap toward the social implementation of a system that automates underwater inspection tasks of offshore wind power generation facilities using AUVs*1 (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) and others. This roadmap organizes the future vision of underwater inspection systems using AUVs, etc., to reduce risks and achieve unmanned operations in underwater inspection tasks, targeting offshore wind power generation facilities which are expected to expand in the future.
This project was conducted upon being selected for the 'Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Utilization Demonstration Project' by the Secretariat of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, Cabinet Office.
■ Overview of the Demonstration Test
In creating the roadmap, a demonstration test combining an ROV*2 (Remotely Operated Vehicle), an ASV*3 (Autonomous Surface Vehicle), and an AUV was conducted in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture in October 2025. In this demonstration test, inspection work using video shooting and sonar (detection by sound waves) was performed on the underwater parts of the observation target*4, and technical and operational challenges (such as inspection methods and operational systems for the seabed) toward the autonomization and unmanned operation of underwater inspection tasks were extracted.
For details of this demonstration test, please watch this PR video. [URL omitted]
PR Video of the Demonstration Test: Introduces the background of the demonstration test, the scene of the test, and the test results in an easy-to-understand manner.
■ Proposal of a Roadmap for Social Implementation of AUVs
Based on the challenges extracted in the demonstration test, we considered the future vision of underwater inspection systems as of 2030 and 2040, aiming to improve the efficiency and reduce costs of underwater inspection tasks for offshore wind power generation facilities. Specifically, we organized ideas keeping in mind the optimal placement of marine robotics such as AUVs, including a system configuration combining ASVs and AUVs to conduct wide-area inspection tasks autonomously and unmanned. At the same time, we organized milestones toward the early social implementation of AUVs, etc. by 2030, such as continuous technological development and verification, and conducting long-term implementation tests, and proposed them as a roadmap.
*5 Future vision of an inspection system utilizing marine robotics such as AUVs envisioned in 2040:
1. The hovering-type AUV grasps its own position with positioning support from the surface reference point and inspects mooring lines, power transmission cables, etc.
2. The ASV receives the data collected by the AUV via underwater communication and transmits it to the DX panel.
3. When its battery gets low, the AUV autonomously moves to the seabed station to recharge and perform data communication.
This project was conducted upon being selected for the 'Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Utilization Demonstration Project' by the Secretariat of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, Cabinet Office.
■ Overview of the Demonstration Test
In creating the roadmap, a demonstration test combining an ROV*2 (Remotely Operated Vehicle), an ASV*3 (Autonomous Surface Vehicle), and an AUV was conducted in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture in October 2025. In this demonstration test, inspection work using video shooting and sonar (detection by sound waves) was performed on the underwater parts of the observation target*4, and technical and operational challenges (such as inspection methods and operational systems for the seabed) toward the autonomization and unmanned operation of underwater inspection tasks were extracted.
For details of this demonstration test, please watch this PR video. [URL omitted]
PR Video of the Demonstration Test: Introduces the background of the demonstration test, the scene of the test, and the test results in an easy-to-understand manner.
■ Proposal of a Roadmap for Social Implementation of AUVs
Based on the challenges extracted in the demonstration test, we considered the future vision of underwater inspection systems as of 2030 and 2040, aiming to improve the efficiency and reduce costs of underwater inspection tasks for offshore wind power generation facilities. Specifically, we organized ideas keeping in mind the optimal placement of marine robotics such as AUVs, including a system configuration combining ASVs and AUVs to conduct wide-area inspection tasks autonomously and unmanned. At the same time, we organized milestones toward the early social implementation of AUVs, etc. by 2030, such as continuous technological development and verification, and conducting long-term implementation tests, and proposed them as a roadmap.
*5 Future vision of an inspection system utilizing marine robotics such as AUVs envisioned in 2040:
1. The hovering-type AUV grasps its own position with positioning support from the surface reference point and inspects mooring lines, power transmission cables, etc.
2. The ASV receives the data collected by the AUV via underwater communication and transmits it to the DX panel.
3. When its battery gets low, the AUV autonomously moves to the seabed station to recharge and perform data communication.