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Autonomous Robotics Ltd, previously GO Science Ltd, is a UK company developing an Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with an Ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) application. == History == GO Science Ltd was founded in 2002〔(Incorporation date 10 October 2002 )〕 in Bristol, UK by a former BAe director of Underwater Systems,〔Whitehead, Tony, "Neither Fish Nor Fowl", Business Link South West Interview, April 2008〕 and a founder of the Las Iguanas restaurant chain,〔(Directors )〕 to develop a ‘ring wing’ Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Initial funding was from the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) in 2006.〔"Exploring Oceans, Waterways, Pipelines and Structures with Energy Efficient Robots", 13 February 2006, (www.goscience.co.uk ) accessed 13 April 2012〕 In November 2008 ICON Corporate Finance〔(Track record – deals in 2008 )〕 raised significant investment (19.4%〔(Investor's Champion - Thalassa Holdings 20130924 ), 24 September 2013〕) for GO Science from Kenda Capital, the manager of the Shell Technology Ventures Fund 1 (STVF)〔(Shell Technology Ventures Fund )〕 with Kenda directors joining the board. The prototype vehicle was developed in the University of Bristol labs, then at Redhill Farm Business Park and later at Aztec West, outside Bristol. An office was opened at the SETsquared Business Acceleration Centre at the University of Bristol. In September 2009 the company announced that it had won a £6m contract with an unnamed oil company.〔Page, Lewis,("'Ring-wing' robo-sub smart swarm lands £6m oil deal" ), The Register, 9 September 2009〕 This was later confirmed as Shell E&P, adding the challenge of a deepwater specification. Shell’s Chief Scientist Geophysics stated that the concept was to be tested "in earnest" for a few months whilst recognising the cost and acknowledging that "we’re happy to partner with others".〔Duey, Rhonda,("‘Flying’ Nodes Shift Marine Seismic Paradigm" ), E&P Magazine, 1 December 2011〕 Shell provided the company with over £4 million of investment.〔(Financial Statement 31 December 2011 )〕 Subsequently GO Science announced it was under contract to "two very large companies".〔Ribbeck, Michael,("GOING FOR GROWTH: Technology firm Go Science needs funding to develop its new ideas" ), The Bristol Post, 14 June 2013〕 In May 2012 the planned trials for Shell E&P consisted of a five vehicle trial in the Gulf of Mexico, USA, for the summer of 2012, with a larger trial of fifty vehicles in 2013.〔("Deepwater" ), p.14, Shell E&P, May 2012〕 Neither of these trials were undertaken. Pressures on the company increased through 2012-13. STVF were looking critically at their investments, following a review of the portfolio companies by a senior Schlumberger executive in 2011. The GO Science accounts to the end of 2012 showed a loss of £0.3m.〔("Thalassa to Buy Go Science Limited" ), Offshore Energy Today, 23 September 2013〕 In June 2013 the company applied for funding from the West of England Going for Growth campaign.〔(Ribbeck )〕 At the same time the company’s commitments to Shell E&P, with regard to the planned trials, were slipping. On 31 July 2013 GO Science Ltd was placed into administration at the request of STVF, due £2.5m with other creditors owed over £0.5m. Six of the thirteen staff were made redundant. However ten potential buyers approached the administrators, BDO, and in September 2013 Thalassa Holdings Ltd agreed to pay £3.6m for the company.〔Frost, Richard, ("Creditors face anxious wait over Go Science" ), Insider Media, 28 October 2013〕 At the close of 2013 the GO Science shareholders expected to receive Thalassa shares if "Go Science’s principal customer contracts are re-activated."〔("Proposed Acquisition of the GO Science Business" ), Thalassa Holdings Ltd, 23 September 2013〕 Thalassa, which possesses expertise in OBS, has made the acquisition "on what appear to be extremely favourable terms" according to AimZine.〔(Investor's Champion ), accessed 17 December 2013〕 In 2014 it was revealed that Thalassa had paid rather less for GO Science, $2.9m, and registered the group in the British Virgin Islands.〔(Thalassa 2013 Results ), accessed 23 April 2014〕 Thalassa appointed a previous Managing Director of Saab Seaeye Ltd as CEO, the company was renamed Autonomous Robotics Ltd and relocated to Warminster, UK.〔(Thalassa Appoints New CEO of GO Science ) Subsea World News, 30 June 2014〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Autonomous Robotics Ltd」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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