Venue: University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Engineering South Lecture Room S112
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Time: Refreshments from 6:00 pm for 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
About the presentation:
Speaker: Dr Thomas Chaffre, Lecturer in Robotics Engineering, Flinders University
The inspection and maintenance of ship hulls are critical for ensuring maritime safety, operational efficiency, and compliance with national regulations. Traditional inspection methods are labour-intensive, costly, and often require dry-docking, posing significant logistical challenges.
This presentation explores the integration of underwater robotics and advanced computer vision techniques to enable efficient, autonomous, and non-invasive inspection of ship hulls. We will discuss the design and deployment of remotely operated and autonomous underwater vehicles (ROVs/AUVs) equipped with high-resolution imaging systems, sonar, and machine learning-based visual analysis for defect detection, biofouling assessment and modelling, and structural integrity evaluation. Key challenges such as underwater lighting, image distortion, navigation in GPS-denied environments, and real-time data processing are addressed. A recent case study in Perth and experimental results on a navy ship demonstrate the practical viability and benefits of these technologies in real-world maritime settings.
