As a key pillar of its underwater Strategic Programs, the trade and development body, which represents the UK’s £9.4 billion underwater industry, has identified where industry focus and collaboration are needed to build on decades of UK expertise and support the continued development of robotics and autonomous technologies.
The UK has a significant opportunity to maintain and further develop its position in underwater robotics and autonomy, with growing demand for technologies across multiple sectors including oil and gas, defense, and offshore wind.
Mark Collins, Chair of the GUH Underwater Robotics and Autonomy Forum and RIS Director at SMD, said: “Underwater Robotics and Autonomous systems are a key point of multiple energy markets. The industry is looking to take the next step, while remaining anchored in the UK. The sector needs to be aligned behind a shared vision, and the Underwater Robotics and Autonomy Forum’s whitepaper can be exactly that.”
The opportunity for the UK supply chain is significant, but there are challenges that need to be addressed to ensure robotics and autonomous technologies can be developed, manufactured, and tested in the UK before being deployed across a credible pipeline of projects at home and overseas.
These include greater collaboration to understand the future robotics requirements of developers and operators, the regulatory environment surrounding unmanned vehicles and operations within the 500-meter zone, and how the industry progresses autonomy from inspection towards intervention on underwater assets.
Lewis Scorgie, Market Intelligence Analyst at Global Underwater Hub, said: “Underwater robotics, and increasingly autonomy, have been a cornerstone of the UK’s underwater industry for decades. These technologies support projects across multiple sectors, particularly oil and gas and defense.
“There will also be significant demand for robotic and autonomous solutions as offshore wind grows, creating opportunities for the UK supply chain to build on the expertise and capability already established here.”
The Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan identified next-generation operations and maintenance as one of five areas in which the UK should be a world leader.
GUH has identified nine areas for industry focus:
- Engagement with end users and use-case development
- 500-meter zone operations
- Regulation around unmanned vehicles
- Skills and training for remote operations
- Testing facilities
- A roadmap for autonomy, from inspection to intervention
- Cybersecurity around remote operations
- Data quality and AI
- Visa requirements
The GUH Underwater Robotics and Autonomy Forum, established in 2025, will guide work across these areas, bringing the supply chain together to influence standards and policy, issue guidance notes, and build closer engagement with operators, developers, and other end users.
Through the forum, GUH aims to identify and address barriers to the development and adoption of robotics and autonomous technologies and help ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the sector as capabilities and market requirements evolve.
The white paper forms the third core pillar of GUH’s Strategic Programs, following the publication of the Subsea Electrical Systems and Cables White Paper in 2025 and the Moorings and Anchoring Systems White Paper in June 2026.
It sets out the challenges that need to be addressed and areas where coordinated industry action can support UK supply chain capability, encourage the development of best practice, and create opportunities across domestic and international markets.
Lewis concluded: “The UK underwater supply chain has countless examples of setting international standards in subsea operations around the world.
“The challenge for underwater robotics and autonomy is now bridging the gap between robotics and greater autonomy. Through industry engagement and the development of guidance, the Underwater Robotics and Autonomy Forum will work to address that challenge and help keep the UK at the forefront of the sector.”
The Underwater Robotics and Autonomy White Paper can be accessed online by visiting the following page:Â https://www.globalunderwaterhub.com/market-intel/White-Papers
