Abstract
This paper describes a set of assistive tools and technologies for system integration, deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of ocean energy devices. The flexible design of these tools enables their use as separate standalone modules, as well as their integration into a unique integrated system. A major component of the system is a smart remotely operated vehicle ROVLATIS — a novel, multi-mode of operation marine robotics vehicle designed for flexibility in near seabed operations from shallow inshore waters out to the continental shelf edge. Ocean energy technologies play an important part in meeting the Irish government's energy strategy, which targets 33 per cent of Irish electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020. The assistive tools, proposed in this paper, will help developers of ocean energy devices in meeting this target during different stages of design, deployment, and operation.