ICOP spa SB
Since
Solution Overview
for
Maintenance and renewal of underwater port infrastructure is traditionally slow, costly, and high-risk. Works beneath decks and inside confined marine environments often require specialized operators to intervene in areas that are difficult to access, with limited visibility, complex logistics, and exposure to hazardous conditions. Traditional methods also make it harder to ensure consistent quality, full traceability, and environmental control of water, sediments, and processing residues. As ports age and demand for resilient infrastructure grows, owners need faster, safer, and more sustainable ways to inspect, clean, repair, and protect submerged structures while reducing downtime and operational impact.
Our Solution:
RoboGO is an AI-powered semi-submersible robotic system for maintaining and renewing underwater port infrastructure. Robotic units equipped with multi-degree-of-freedom hydraulic arms operate beneath port structures, using sensors to map surfaces in high resolution and detect structural degradation. The system then performs maintenance tasks such as high-pressure water cleaning, hydrodemolition, drying, waterproofing application, and structural mortar spraying. Machine learning supports surface classification and helps select the most suitable intervention strategy. Operations are supervised remotely from a Control Room on an external barge, while an integrated onboard system collects and treats water, sediments, and residues to reduce environmental impact.
How it works:
RoboGO changes this operating model: the work area is accessed directly from the sea, allowing interventions beneath the structure without surface openings and without requiring workers underneath. This enables more continuous operations, with far less dependence on external surface conditions and port availability. As a result, maintenance can be carried out faster, more safely, and with limited impact on ongoing port activities, while improving accessibility, consistency, and control.
Classification & Use Cases
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Impact & SDGs
Contribution to any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals:
SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-being: RoboGO removes workers from confined, wet, high-risk underwater spaces by enabling remote operation from a control barge, significantly improving occupational safety.
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: RoboGO improves productivity while removing workers from confined, wet, high-risk underwater spaces. Remote operation from a control barge enables safer, more efficient infrastructure works.
SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: RoboGO applies robotics, AI, sensors, and machine learning to modernize port infrastructure maintenance, enabling faster rehabilitation of submerged concrete structures.
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: RoboGO monitors and controls the consumption of applied materials, such as waterproofing products and repair mortars, reducing waste and improving process efficiency. Water, sediments, and debris are also recovered and treated onboard.
SDG 14 – Life Below Water: RoboGO prevents discharge into the port area by collecting and treating processing residues onboard, helping reduce the impact of underwater construction and maintenance on marine environments.
