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Laser Photonics Corporation (LPC), a developer of industrial laser technologies, is enhancing surface preparation, cleaning, decontamination and restoration with its laser cleaning-enabled robotic crawler.
In collaboration with Boston Engineering, a company focused on product design and engineering solutions, and Fonon Technologies, experts in laser technology integration, this system offers a unique approach to material processing in defense and maritime applications.
The advanced robotic crawler, powered by LPC’s laser systems, was publicly unveiled at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY & IMF) Technology & Capabilities Demo on January 22, 2025.
Hosted at the USS Battleship Missouri Memorial, the event demonstrated the crawler’s remarkable ability to autonomously navigate ship hulls and structures, effectively removing corrosion and cleaning surfaces with pinpoint accuracy. Designed for harsh environments and difficult-to-reach areas, this technology ensures both efficiency and safety in critical operations.
Bryan Lee, Vice President, Fonon Technologies, said, “Integrating advanced laser cleaning technology with Boston Engineering’s state-of-the-art robotic crawler offers a paradigm shift in addressing the Navy’s $23 billion annual corrosion challenge. This collaboration has the potential to bring unmatched efficiency, safety and precision to Naval maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations.”
Mark Smithers, CTO and co-founder of Boston Engineering, added, “Our defense and maritime infrastructure sector is being pushed to leverage digital tools and advanced capabilities to maintain national security as well as global maritime leadership. Boston Engineering and its strategic partners are responding to the call to develop and transition capabilities. Integrating LPC’s and Fonon Technologies’ laser systems with our robotic crawler provides a powerful tool for optimizing all such MRO processes. We look forward to highlighting laser cleaning efficiency through this partnership.”
Through the powerful synergy of LPC’s laser solutions, Fonon Technologies’ system integration, and Boston Engineering’s design expertise, the robotic crawler offers an innovative tool for the defense, maritime, shipbuilding, and repair sectors. This collaboration is seen as a significant step forward in the future of surface cleaning and maintenance.
