What are the main commercial or industrial applications of underwater robots?

Oh, this is an interesting topic. You can think of underwater robots as "underwater drones." Many tasks that previously required people to wear heavy diving suits and risk their lives can now largely be handled by these robots, making them both safe and efficient.

Currently, they are primarily active in several key areas:

1. Ocean Energy Development (the major one):

   • Oil and Gas: This is the most traditional and largest market for underwater robots. There are vast networks of subsea pipelines and equipment that require regular inspection for leaks or damage. Previously, this relied on divers, but humans cannot reach depths of hundreds or thousands of meters. Now, robots are deployed with high-definition cameras and sonar to inspect, and if problems are found, they can extend robotic arms to turn valves or perform minor repairs, essentially acting as underwater mechanics.
   • Offshore Wind Power: With the increasing number of offshore wind farms, the foundations and cables of these massive turbines also need regular inspection for corrosion or foundation instability. This work is largely entrusted to underwater robots.

2. Infrastructure Inspection and Maintenance:

   • Cross-sea Bridges and Port Terminals: For structures like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which has numerous underwater piers, it's crucial to check for cracks or damage from ship collisions. Robots can dive down and capture high-definition video around the piers, creating 3D models, offering a more detailed view than human eyes.
   • Underwater Power and Optical Cables: Much of our internet relies on submarine optical cables. These cables can sometimes be severed by fishing trawlers or damaged by geological activity. Robots can patrol along the cable routes, locate breaks, and assist with repairs.
   • Dams and Reservoirs: The underwater sections of reservoir dams also require inspection, which robots can perform safely and conveniently.

3. Fisheries and Aquaculture:

   • There are now many large deep-sea aquaculture cages, for farming salmon, for example. Robots can dive into these cages to monitor fish growth, check for net damage, monitor water quality, and even automatically feed the fish.

4. Search and Rescue/Salvage:

   • This is often seen in the news, such as when planes or ships are lost, requiring extensive underwater searches for black boxes or wreckage. In these cases, AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) are used. These robots, like small submarines, can autonomously follow pre-planned routes to scan the seabed, creating highly detailed maps, significantly improving search efficiency. Once a target is found, an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) equipped with tethers and robotic arms can be deployed for salvage.

5. Scientific Research:

   • While not purely commercial, many technologies originate here. Scientists use them to explore deep-sea hydrothermal vents, study underwater volcanoes, observe rare deep-sea organisms, and map the largely unknown seabed. These research findings, in turn, promote commercial applications.

In summary, any underwater task that is "dirty, arduous, dangerous, or deep" is now largely the domain of underwater robots.