Develops autonomous underwater robots for cleaning ship hulls while underway

LARABICUS GmbH

KasselNew on Amplifa

2023Founded (GmbH, HRB 20604 Local Court Kassel)

KasselLocation

1.2 million eurosEXIST Research Transfer funding

About LARABICUS

LARABICUS GmbH, based in Kassel, develops autonomous underwater robots for cleaning and inspecting ship hulls while underway (in-transit). The roughly one-meter-long, streamlined robot shaped like a flat mini-submarine attaches to the hull with magnetic wheels and removes biofouling such as algae, mussels and barnacles using soft cleaning brushes that are gentle on the ship's paint. The propulsion system harnesses energy from the surrounding water, enabling long-lasting autonomous operation. After each cleaning mission, the system generates a Cleaning Report on the hull's condition. The technology reduces the fuel consumption of merchant ships, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and decreases the risk of spreading invasive species. Founded in 2023 as a spin-off of the University of Kassel, the company targets shipping companies and the maritime industry with its Cleaning-as-a-Service solution, focusing on container ships.

Site: Kassel
Processes: Cleaning with soft brush mechanisms (cleaning brushes on the underside, gentle on the ship's paint), Autonomous in-transit ship hull cleaning, Hull inspection, Cleaning Reports, Predictive Maintenance
Materials: Underwater hull cleaning robot (prototype), Soft brush mechanisms, Innovative propulsion system
Industries: Shipping, Shipping companies, Ship engineering / Maritime technology

01
Development and construction of the cleaning robot
02
Autonomous in-transit cleaning of the ship hull
03
Hull inspection
04
Cleaning Report and predictive maintenance

Technology & Processes

ROB

Underwater hull cleaning robot (prototype)

Roughly one-meter-long, ultra-flat mini-submarine with fins and magnetic wheels for attaching to the ship hull.

BÜR

Soft brush mechanisms

Cleaning brushes on the underside remove biofouling without damaging the ship's paint.

PROP

Innovative propulsion system

Uses energy from the surrounding water for long-lasting operation.

Locations

Kassel

Headquarters and development

Underwater hull cleaning robot (prototype)

Industries

ShippingShipping companiesShip engineering / Maritime technology

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
Surface	–	–	–	–	–
Cleaning with soft brush mechanisms (cleaning brushes on the underside, gentle on the ship's paint)Surface	–	–	–	–	–

1 Anlagen & Maschinen

Machine	Manufacturer / model	Quantity	Working area	Year built	Site
Underwater hull cleaning robot (prototype)	LARABICUS GmbH LARABICUS	1	–	2023	Kassel

Additional services

Autonomous in-transit ship hull cleaningHull inspectionCleaning ReportsPredictive Maintenance

History

2020
First place in the UNIKAT ideas competition of the University of Kassel
2023
EXIST Research Transfer funding of 1.2 million euros; HANSA Young Innovators Award 2023; first prize in the Hessen Ideas Competition; founding of LARABICUS GmbH (HRB 20604)
2024
Practical tests of the prototype on a ship planned