Subsea Robotics Course for ROV/AUV Inspection
Online 300-hour course in subsea robotics for ROV/AUV inspection. 6 modules covering IMCA R 004 Guide to the safe and efficient operation of ROVs, API RP 17H / ISO 13628-8 ROV tools and interfaces on subsea systems, and ROS (Robot Operating System). Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Subsea Robotics Course for ROV/AUV Inspection — studying from Canada
Canada's marine sector includes shipbuilding and naval programmes on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, with yards in Halifax, Saint John and Vancouver. The National Shipbuilding Strategy supports the design and construction of federal vessels. Offshore energy activity is centred on Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia, while recreational boating and sports nautical manufacturing are active in Ontario and British Columbia. Engineers work on hull design, propulsion, marine systems and classification.
Fees for Canada: C$1,010 (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Canada
Typical roles
Questions from Canada
Is this programme recognised by professional bodies in Canada for naval and offshore engineering?
SEIUM's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited nationally in Canada. Marine and offshore engineering is linked to bodies such as Engineers Canada and provincial regulators for professional engineering, and to classification societies for vessel certification. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body.
Who in Canada might employ graduates of this area?
Employers could include shipyards, offshore energy firms, naval contractors and marine equipment suppliers, as well as sports nautical manufacturers. Each employer decides how it values a private qualification, and sector-specific experience and certifications are often important. Your final project may help demonstrate applied skills, but no job outcome is guaranteed.
What practical factors should I check before enrolling from Canada?
The programme is online and taught in English, so you can study from any Canadian location with no student visa needed. Programmes range from 300 hours to 1,900 hours, so plan your schedule realistically. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and each student is assigned a technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Classify underwater vehicles and select the right one for each task.
Integrate acoustic, inertial and Doppler navigation systems.
Select inspection sensors according to the asset and the defect sought.
Apply control, manipulation and autonomy techniques to underwater vehicles.
Plan ROV and AUV operations using IMCA safety criteria.
Manage and analyse the data obtained during inspection.
Design a complete robotic inspection campaign.
Who it's for
- ROV technical pilot looking to specialise in Subsea Robotics for ROV/AUV Inspection.
- Subsea robotics engineer looking to specialise in Subsea Robotics for ROV/AUV Inspection.
- Underwater navigation specialist looking to specialise in Subsea Robotics for ROV/AUV Inspection.
- ROV operations supervisor looking to specialise in Subsea Robotics for ROV/AUV Inspection.
- Inspection data analyst looking to specialise in Subsea Robotics for ROV/AUV Inspection.
- Autonomous systems engineer looking to specialise in Subsea Robotics for ROV/AUV Inspection.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the oil and gas sector.
What you'll work with
- IMCA R 004 Guide to the safe and efficient operation of ROVs
- API RP 17H / ISO 13628-8 ROV tools and interfaces on subsea systems
- IMCA C 005 Competence guide for remote systems and ROV personnel
- ISO 13628-9 Remotely operated tool intervention systems
- ISO 19901-6 Marine operations
- IHO S-44 Standards for hydrographic surveys
6 modules · 300 h
1.1ROV classification by class1.2Observation and intervention ROVs1.3Inspection and mapping AUVs1.4Hybrid and resident vehicles1.5Launch and recovery systems1.6Umbilical, TMS and cable management1.7Thrusters and thrust configuration1.8Buoyancy and syntactic materials1.9Applications in oil, gas and wind1.10Case study: vehicle for inspecting a wind farm
2.1USBL, LBL and SBL acoustic systems2.2Inertial navigation (INS)2.3Doppler velocity log (DVL)2.4Sensor fusion with Kalman filter2.5Simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM)2.6Relative positioning to structures2.7Acoustic and optical communications2.8AUV trajectory planning2.9Navigation errors and drift2.10Laboratory: INS-DVL fusion with real data
3.1High-definition and stereo cameras3.2Lighting and turbidity3.3Side-scan and multibeam sonar3.4Forward-looking imaging sonar3.5Laser scanners and 3D photogrammetry3.6Cathodic protection and thickness probes3.7ACFM crack detection3.8Buried pipeline locators3.9Methane sensors and leak detection3.10Workshop: sensor payload for inspecting a jacket
4.1Vehicle dynamic model4.2Position and heading control4.3Autopilot and station keeping4.4Manipulator arms and tools4.5Teleoperation with haptic feedback4.6Levels of autonomy4.7Perception through computer vision4.8Automatic anomaly detection with AI4.9Remote operation from onshore centres4.10Practice: PID control of an ROV in simulator
5.1Planning inspection campaigns5.2Support vessels with dynamic positioning5.3Launch and recovery in bad weather5.4Risk assessment of ROV operations5.5IMCA guidance for ROV operations5.6Pilot training and competence5.7Vehicle and systems maintenance5.8Inspection data management and delivery5.9Campaign costs and productivity5.10Case study: inspection campaign for an oil pipeline
6.1Defining the asset to be inspected6.2Selection of vehicles and sensors6.3Navigation plan6.4Inspection procedure6.5Risk assessment6.6Data management plan6.7Cost and time estimation6.8Anomaly reporting criteria6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and a dedicated technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, making it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ROS (Robot Operating System), Gazebo, EIVA NaviSuite, QPS Qinsy, MATLAB/Simulink, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Case studies are based on real procedures for planning a ROV inspection campaign, processing INS-DVL navigation data, and simulating the control of an underwater vehicle. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus a final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Classify underwater vehicles and select the right one for each task.
Integrate acoustic, inertial and Doppler navigation systems.
Select inspection sensors according to the asset and the defect sought.
Apply control, manipulation and autonomy techniques to underwater vehicles.
Plan ROV and AUV operations using IMCA safety criteria.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient command of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That works out to between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with ROS (Robot Operating System), Gazebo, EIVA NaviSuite, QPS Qinsy, MATLAB/Simulink. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate the open-source alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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