WASHINGTON, 23 July 2013. Underwater scientists at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington needed an underwater robotic manipulator arm with a precise control system. They found their solution from Oceaneering International Inc. in Houston.
NRL scientists announced last week they intend to award a sole source contract to Oceaneering International for an Atlas Hybrid underwater robotic manipulation system to support NRL's Undersea Robotic Manipulation (URM) research program.
The Atlas robotic manipulator is developed by FMC Technologies Schilling Robotics in Davis, Calif., however FMC/Schilling does not provide a controller able to perform the tasks that NRL needs, officials say.
Oceaneering International has an agreement with FMC/Schilling to be the sole provider of Atlas Hybrid manipulators that use the original baseline construct, enhanced by an advanced control system that is not readily available, NRL officials say.
The upcoming contract to Oceaneering may be worth about $4 million. Although NRL officials say they are not asking for competitive proposals, anyone whose company could fulfill NRL's needs for a robotic arm should contact NRL no later than 30 July 2013.
Those who believe they have equivalent or superior robotic arm technology suitable to NRL's needs should email the Navy's Patricia Willis at [email protected], or Paul Gilroy at [email protected].
For questions or concerns email Willis or phone her at 202-767-1858. More information is online at https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/ONR/3400/N00173-13-Q-0259/listing.html.
