February 18, 2026 | News & Notices
Supporting Underwater Power Cable Inspections with Accurate Burial Depth Measurement
Development Agreement Signed with the University of Edinburgh for a "Magnetic Noise Compensation Algorithm"
Shimadzu Corporation has entered into a development agreement with the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom to develop a "Magnetic Noise Compensation Algorithm" aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of subsea power cable inspections. In this project, we will establish high-precision magnetic sensor technology—indispensable for the inspection of offshore wind power facilities and subsea cables—by leveraging PINNs (Physics-Informed Neural Networks), a state-of-the-art machine learning approach that incorporates physical laws.
In the maintenance and inspection of offshore floating wind power facilities and subsea power transmission cables, burial depth measurements using magnetic sensors are conducted to confirm that cables are buried at the prescribed position and depth. However, in traditional magnetic sensor based subsea cable measurements, there have been challenges such as magnetic interference from underwater vehicles that hinder measurement accuracy.
This program – supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialization service, aims to integrate Shimadzu’s high-sensitivity magnetic sensor technology with the University’s world-class expertise in AI, machine learning, and marine robotics. The goal is to develop an algorithm that can highly reduce magnetic noise generated by underwater vehicles and their components, enabling precise and efficient measurement of the burial depth and position of subsea cables. The scope of the project envisions not only applications in offshore wind power in Japan, but also deployment to intercontinental subsea power transmission cables in global markets such as Europe.
In addition to this project, Shimadzu offers various solutions for companies and research institutions operating in marine fields, such as the underwater optical wireless communication device "MC500" and the UEP measuring instrument "CF100." We will continue to expand our global marine business and aim to realize the "Digital Transformation (DX) of Marine Development."
- Note: Underwater vehicles refer to AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) and ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles).
The University of Edinburgh
Image of measuring burial depth of subsea power cables using magnetic sensors
Magnetic sensors "MB150" and "MB150S"