Planys Technologies launches second underwater robot

This is partly to provide portable, cost-effective, customizable inspection solutions for oil and gas, shipping and port sectors

Planys Technologies, the country's first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of compact underwater robots which are known as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) capable of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), launched its second indigenously developed ROV Beluga on Friday.

Beluga, the next generation of Planys' advanced ROVs, has more than double the thrust capacity compared to the team's previous products and an enhanced vision and illumination system and has an ability to reach 200 metre depth and go to speeds of up to four knots and light in weight.

This is part of the company's mission to provide portable, cost effective and customizable inspection solutions for oil and gas, shipping and port sectors. Beluga will be available for services from January 2017, said the company.

Tanuj Jhunjhunwala, co-founder and CEO, Planys Technologies said, "Planys seeks to disrupt the way underwater inspections are performed in India and the neighborhood."

He added that the ROV has been specifically designed for the Oil and gas and Shipping sector, but the platform is versatile to benefit numerous allied sectors.

The company has more products in the pipeline. The first version of the ROV was named as Mike and companies such as L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering Ltd has used the vehicle, claimed Planys Technologies.

Krishnan Balasubramanian, head, Centre for Non-Destructive Evaluation (IITM), co-founder and chief advisor at Planys said, "Planys is in a sweet spot today since there are not too many players who are a fusion of marine robotics, non-destructive inspection and advanced emerging technologies."

Founded by IIT Madras alumni and faculty, Planys aims to cover the breadth of inspection solutions from customized design and fabrication of robotic platforms to integrated sensing and diagnostics. Its technology is spread across the domains of marine robotics, advanced Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), and post-inspection analysis tools.