Handy Helpers: Electric Underwater Tools and Manipulators

Underwater vehicles fill a crucial place in maritime operations, providing support across multiple industries, reaching remote locations despite extreme conditions and reducing risk to workers. They function as surrogate eyes and ears where we cannot be, and for periods of time longer than many humans could manage. However, underwater systems reach beyond observational abilities—literally. Tools and manipulators broaden the capabilities of vehicles, allowing them to perform a variety of subsea tasks.

Reaching new depths

“One of the most significant trends we are seeing is the growing expectation that inspection-class vehicles should also be capable of intervention,” explained Nigel Steven, head of commercial at Reach Robotics. “Operators are no longer satisfied with simply observing a problem. They want to recover objects, manipulate equipment, collect samples and complete tasks without deploying larger, more expensive systems.”

As such, there is growing demand across multiple sectors—ranging from defense and offshore energy to commercial inspection, research and environmental monitoring—for manipulators that are lightweight, straightforward to integrate and specific to a project's needs.

Reach Robotics develops electric manipulators for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), enabling operators to perform precise underwater intervention tasks. The company’s product range spans compact systems for smaller inspection-class ROVs through to seven-function manipulators for