“By forming a prediction of future wave disturbances and integrating this within the control system, we’re able to expand this range with little to no change to the robot hardware.”
To help the robot perform this function, wave-detecting sensors must be tethered to the seafloor near offshore platforms. These sensors measure the height and direction of incoming waves and relay them to the robot in real-time. The robot can predict the arrival of the waves at its location and take countering action to maintain itself in a stable position.