Schilling Robotics (now Perry Slingsby Systems)

Schilling Robotics (now Perry Slingsby Systems)
Name	Schilling Robotics (now Perry Slingsby Systems)
Industry	Robotics; Underwater vehicles; Marine engineering
Fate	Acquired / rebranded
Founded	1970s
Headquarters	Davis, California; later affiliates in Stockton-on-Tees
Key people	Franklin Schilling; Antony Slingsby; executives from TechnipFMC; Forum Energy Technologies leadership
Products	Remote operated vehicles; manipulator arms; control systems
Parent	Perry Slingsby Systems; previously Forum Energy Technologies; formerly Schilling Robotics

Schilling Robotics (now Perry Slingsby Systems) was a prominent manufacturer of deepwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), subsea manipulators, and control systems that played a central role in offshore oilfield operations, deep-sea research, and subsea intervention. Founded in the late 20th century by engineers rooted in California, the company gained renown for pioneering manipulator dexterity and work-class ROV design while working with major energy companies, research institutions, and naval agencies. Its technologies influenced standards adopted by international operators and were integrated into global projects from the Gulf of Mexico to the North Sea.

History

Schilling Robotics originated from independent engineering efforts in the San Francisco Bay Area and Davis, California during the 1970s and 1980s, when demand from Chevron, Exxon, and other energy firms for reliable subsea intervention systems accelerated. Early collaborations involved academic partners such as Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley and industrial suppliers from Lockheed Martin and General Electric. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the firm expanded through contracts with Halliburton, Schlumberger, and national research agencies including National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Navy. Strategic alliances with European yards and suppliers connected the company to projects in the North Sea and with operators like BP and Royal Dutch Shell. Corporate transitions included integration into groups such as Forum Energy Technologies and eventual rebranding under Perry Slingsby Systems, bringing together legacy ROV lines and new business units.

Products and Technologies

Schilling developed a portfolio spanning work-class and observation-class vehicles, hydraulic and electric manipulator arms, umbilical control systems, and software for real-time control and diagnostics. Signature products included articulated manipulators used in subsea construction and salvage, control consoles compatible with vessel motion-compensation suites from Kongsberg Maritime and MacGregor (company), and modular vehicle frames adopted by integrators like Saipem and Subsea 7. The company advanced hydraulic servo-valve designs influenced by research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and control algorithms paralleling developments at Carnegie Mellon University. Its manipulators were integrated into scientific platforms used by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and hardware supplied to programs at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Schilling's engineering emphasized redundancy, pressure-tolerant electronics similar to those from Teledyne Technologies, and interoperability with industry standards promoted by American Petroleum Institute and DNV GL.

Operations and Facilities

Operations historically centered in California, with design, assembly, and test facilities collaborating with suppliers across the United States and Europe. The company maintained marine test sites and dry docks linked to service providers such as TechnipFMC and logistics operations coordinated with ports like Port of Houston and Port of Aberdeen. Manufacturing capacity involved partnerships with machining and systems houses in Germany, Norway, and the United Kingdom, while global field support teams liaised with operators in regions served by TotalEnergies, Eni, and Equinor. Training centers supported client personnel using simulators influenced by models from Rolls-Royce Holdings and operator training curricula from Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organization.

Notable Projects and Deployments

Schilling systems were deployed on major subsea campaigns, including deepwater completions in the Gulf of Mexico with companies like Transocean and intervention campaigns in the North Sea for BP and Shell UK. The firm's manipulators played roles in scientific expeditions led by National Science Foundation-funded teams and salvage operations coordinated with United States Coast Guard and Royal Navy assets. High-profile deployments included work on deepwater development fields, integration onto construction vessels chartered by Saipem and Subsea 7, and specialized tasks for renewable energy installers collaborating with Ørsted and Siemens Gamesa. Schilling technology also supported underwater cable work alongside contractors such as Alcatel Submarine Networks.

Corporate Changes and Ownership

Over its history the company experienced multiple ownership and structural changes, moving from independent status to acquisition by sector consolidators. Transactions involved corporate groups like Forum Energy Technologies and operational alignments with legacy firms such as Perry Slingsby Systems in the United Kingdom. Executive leadership and technology assets were merged to create broader portfolios competing with entities like Fugro and Saipem Subsea Engineering. These corporate changes aimed to align ROV product lines with global service offerings from conglomerates including TechnipFMC and Rolls-Royce Marine.

Certifications and Standards

Schilling products adhered to industry standards and certifications required by operators and classification societies. Equipment conformed to guidelines from American Bureau of Shipping and Det Norske Veritas/Germanischer Lloyd (DNV GL), and procedures matched operational safety frameworks promulgated by International Marine Contractors Association and International Organization for Standardization. Quality management aligned with ISO 9001 systems, while testing and pressure certification referenced protocols used by Lloyd's Register and client-driven acceptance processes from major contractors such as Halliburton.

Legacy and Impact on ROV Industry

Schilling Robotics' contributions shaped manipulator design, control ergonomics, and ruggedization of deepwater systems, influencing competitors and academic research in underwater robotics. Innovations in hydraulic actuation and human-machine interfaces informed products from firms like Saab Seaeye, Oceaneering International, and Schmidt Ocean Institute collaborations. Its technologies supported the expansion of subsea production systems, enabling developments by BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil in increasingly deep waters. The company's patents, engineering talent, and systems legacy continue to underpin modern ROV platforms and training programs in the international offshore and marine research communities.

Category:Underwater robotics companies Category:Subsea engineering companies Category:Companies of the United States