A team of KAUST graduates at the Saudi Aramco Intelligent Systems Team designed and built a robotic crawler for visual and ultrasonic inspection of Aramco’s steel assets. The crawler, developed from 2012-2014, can wirelessly inspect curved surfaces for corrosion in hard-to-reach locations. The team won the Industry Glory Medal from the International Federation of Inventors Association in 2013 for this industry-first achievement. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in producing talent that contributes directly to Saudi Aramco's technological advancements in critical infrastructure inspection.
In 2012, Saudi Aramco formed an Intelligent Systems team composed primarily of KAUST graduates to prototype robots for oil and gas operations. The team developed SAIR (Saudi Aramco Inspection Robot) in 18 months, a robot capable of visual and ultrasonic inspection of steel assets and gas sensing. SAIR is wirelessly operated, compact, and detects corrosion in hard-to-reach places. Why it matters: This highlights the critical role of KAUST in supplying talent for advanced technology development in Saudi Arabia, particularly in robotics for the energy sector.
KAUST and Aramco have signed an IP license agreement for the Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Crawler Technology (HUCT), which combines aerial and terrestrial robotic capabilities. The HUCT will be used for inspection, monitoring, and other industrial applications within Aramco's operations. The agreement supports KAUST's mission to translate research into real-world applications, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. Why it matters: This partnership demonstrates the growing innovation ecosystem in Saudi Arabia, leveraging academic research for industrial applications in robotics and AI.
Khalid Al-Falih, then Saudi Aramco President and CEO, gave a keynote at KAUST's Winter Enrichment Program. He highlighted KAUST and Saudi Aramco's roles in science, technology, and innovation for the Kingdom's benefit. Al-Falih noted Saudi Aramco employs over 100 KAUST alumni and partners with the university on R&D, citing a team of KAUST graduates developing a pipeline inspection robot. Why it matters: The speech underscores the strategic importance of KAUST in Saudi Arabia's vision for a knowledge-based economy and its close ties with the Kingdom's leading industry player.
KAUST and Fugro conducted the first remotely operated vehicle (ROV) training program in Saudi Arabia in 2018 through the KAUST-Fugro Center of Excellence for Marine Technology. The Fugro ROV Academy is accepted by major oil and gas companies, providing KAUST marine science students access to deepwater ROVs and pilot training. KAUST Ph.D. student Lina Eyouni became the first Saudi female ROV pilot through this program. Why it matters: The initiative enhances marine research capabilities in Saudi Arabia, aligning with Vision 2030 by promoting environmental protection and providing students with industry-standard training in robotics.