Published by
RTI Connext DDS meets the requirements for TechnipFMC’s Oil and Gas projects
Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity company, announced that the Schilling Robotics business unit of TechnipFMC, a global leader in Oil & Gas projects, technologies, systems and services, has selected RTI Connext DDS as the connectivity framework for its underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs).
TechnipFMC is leveraging RTI’s technology to build next-generation remote robotics controls, an integration that is enabling faster and more secure connectivity within TechnipFMC’s underwater ROVs. These systems are used by service companies that support some of the biggest names in Oil & Gas.
TechnipFMC’s ROVs are used in complex subsea and offshore projects. They can operate at depths of 3,000 meters or more below sea-level, and are deployed to assist with servicing subsea infrastructure, managing assets and performing crucial maintenance and construction tasks at the seafloor. Due to the complexity and agility needed to work offshore and with remote underwater robots, these projects require highly skilled and trained operators. Operators trained for these specific tasks can be in short supply, so customers look to automated technical solutions to help bridge this labor gap.
Historically, this type of equipment has been teleoperated, but with TechnipFMC’s integration of Connext DDS, a revolution in underwater, real-time robotic controls is underway, promoting a shift from manual to automated functions. These technological advances are promoting autonomy within the Oil & Gas market and helping boost efficiency, lower costs and accelerate schedules for enterprises within the industry.
TechnipFMC leverages RTI’s software in the core software stack of their robotic systems, relying on Connext DDS to reliably transport sensor and control data within the ROV control system network. With RTI Connext DDS, the TechnipFMC team can easily implement new features without having to re-architect the data transport infrastructure, and can seamlessly and rapidly add and remove features to meet evolving market demands and customization requests. Connext DDS provides granular customization and enables TechnipFMC to quickly develop new product functions as well as support customer-specific hardware.
TechnipFMC is a longstanding RTI customer and has been working with the company for nearly two decades. TechnipFMC began their relationship with RTI by implementing NDDS, RTI’s early stage Connext framework in their ROV products. In 2010, TechnipFMC started building a new generation of ROV control software and made the natural switch from NDDS to Connext DDS Professional, which provided a more flexible, scalable and customizable solution for their customers.
About Real-Time Innovations (RTI), Inc.
Real-Time Innovations is the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) connectivity company. The RTI Connext® databus is a software framework that shares information in real time, making applications work together as one, integrated system. It connects across field, fog and cloud. Its reliability, security, performance and scalability are proven in the most demanding industrial systems. Deployed systems include medical devices and imaging; wind, hydro and solar power; autonomous planes, trains and cars; traffic control; Oil and Gas; robotics, ships and defense.
RTI is the largest vendor of products based on the Object Management Group (OMG) Data Distribution Service™ (DDS) standard. RTI is privately held and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.