The U.S. Navy's Office of Naval Research has awarded RE2 Robotics a $9.5 million defense contract to enhance the development of RE2's Maritime Mine Neutralization System (M2NS), an autonomous underwater robotic arm and computer system capable of disabling mines or other improvised explosive devices found in deep seas or oceans.
The Pittsburgh-based company said the contract marked the largest deal in its 20-year history.
With M2NS, RE2 combines its advanced computer vision and autonomy software, RE2 Detect and RE2 Intellect, respectively, to identify and neutralize a possible explosive target with its Sapien Sea Class robotic arms.
"It's a new enabling capability that (the Navy) hasn't had before," RE2 CEO Jorgen Pedersen said. "Do they have the ability to maneuver and do some rudimentary operations? Yes. But now it's like having a human diver anywhere you want it, anywhere in the ocean, not only shallow waters, but deep waters. Having that human-like capability, that dexterity and strength and power efficiency all in one package allows you to perform really complex tasks anywhere the Navy needs it."
The robotic arms also have uses beyond those of the military. Pedersen said they can be used in offshore infrastructure and maintenance applications such as those in the oil, gas and renewable wind industries; be it for inspecting rig piles and valves to other repair-related work that's needed at depths that are not suitable for humans. Doing these types of tasks now, Pedersen said, often requires a "huge" workforce and ships that can cost hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars a day to operate.
"If we can replicate that same capability in human scale and really have the same form factor as a human diver, now you don't need this big ship to provide that capability," Pedersen said. "From a commercial standpoint, (you're) getting incredible ROI on this capability where you're replacing this large technology with smaller, more compact technology. It gives you incredible cost savings but without jeopardizing the quality of the work."
Pedersen said RE2 now has more than 90 employees and is actively hiring. He also said revenue is expected to grow by 75% or more this year, though declined to disclose more specific figures. Pedersen did note, however, that over 50% of revenue now comes from commercial sales, a figure that has grown since 2018, which is when almost 100% of the company's revenue came from defense contracts.
