A Graphical User Interface for Remote Intewention
Authors: Nilsen K.A. , Hallset J.O. , Sandvig G. 
Published: October 2008

Deep water petroleum production must rely on remotely controlled intervention methods, like ROV systems, to do inspection, maintenance and repair tasks. ROV work is normally done by a skilled pilot, controlling the vehicle and its tools, The pilot's work is made tedious by the uncontrolled environment with currents, turbid water, inferior lighting and loss of perspective.

The MIMIC (W&k Integrated Man-machine Interaction and Control) project is a new system development aimed at improving the reticence and quality of ROV operations, The improvement is achieved by providing the pilot with a dramatically better user interface than he has today. The interface is based on three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics technology.

In current ROV control systems, the pilot has to perceive data fromMany different sources, of various quality. The MIMIC project shows that it is possible to integrate and enhance this information, decreasing the work-load on the operator, and reducing operation time and costs due to errors.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this work is the fast systematic attempt at using 3D computer graphics in this application field, not counting experimental systems. Similar systems are on the test bed for land and space applications.

Introduction

Sub sea petroleum production installations require reliable and efficient support systems for installation, inspection, maintenance and repair. As water depths increase, diver less systems, like ROVS, become more important. However, current remotely controlled systems suffer from limitations imposed by the sub sea environment, making control and operation of such systems difficult

Since 1988, Saga Petroleum has financed research and development activities to address the problems with sub sea tele operation, aiming at the development of new technology for increasing efficiency and reliability. A study was performed to identify and specify more accurately the control-related problems and limitations of ROV operations. At the same time, different techniques to enharree tele operation user interface were evaluated. The main result of these projects, the MIMIC system, is currently under development by Oceaneering,

MIMIC is a concept for the integration of several different technologies for remote control of sub sea operation, initially directed towards ROV ay-. However, the technology is usable for several different applications m related areas. The concept focuses on the part of the system that normally gets least attention; the user. Indeed, MIMIC presents a whole new Hunan/computer interface for remote control systems, based on virtual reality technology. A virtual reality system enables the operator to experience a virtual world. The virtual world can be experienced by the user through a variety of w interfaces, from normal computer screens to combinations of head-mounted stereoscopic displays and data input gloves. MIMIC uses a computer generated 3D model in which it is possible to mimic or mirror the behavior of the red world.

The 3D computer interface, which will be presented in this paper, is under development and is scheduled for testing on an observation! ROV system this Spring. The background for MIMIC will be described. The MIMIC concept and system development will be presented. Finally, the 3D interface and the technology behind it will be described.