RoLaKI: AI-supported laser 3D printing under water

U-3D Printing LZH Researchers Develop Laser 3D Printing for Underwater Use

2026-03-24 Source: LZH | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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"RoLaKI" is the acronym for a project in which the Laser-Zentrum Hannover (LZH) and partners want to make 3D printing of steel parts under water possible ...

According to the Laser-Zentrum Hannover, what is sizzling away underwater marks the first steps towards a way of repairing steel structures more cheaply and without complications using robots, laser 3D printing and AI ...(Image: LZH) — According to the Laser-Zentrum Hannover, what is sizzling away underwater marks the first steps towards a way of repairing steel structures more cheaply and without complications using robots, laser 3D printing and AI ...
(Image: LZH)

Sections of structures that are partially submerged, such as offshore wind turbines, bridge piers or port infrastructure, are exposed to extreme conditions. Repairing damage to their steel structures is also time-consuming and therefore expensive. The "RoLaKI" research project aims to put an end to this by enabling the LZH, the Institute for Information Processing (TNT) at Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) and Oftec Handelsgesellschaft für Oberflächentechnik to develop a new process that can be used to coat large areas of steel structures under water or repair them by printing on new structures (quasi laser cladding). Know-how from robotics and artificial intelligence is helping here. Printing will therefore be done by laser, which will work together with AI. The first step is to investigate how the various process parameters influence the structure of the material layers and ultimately the printing result, as we learn further.

Weld Seams Can Be Precisely Positioned Under Water

This is then used to create the data pool with which the AI is trained. This would teach it which parameters are the best for an upcoming underwater repair task. AI-based path planning is also to be developed, which can calculate the best way to eliminate a defective area. The team is also developing special laser processing optics for use outside the laboratory. This will combine the optical components with the wire feed for the coating process. The optics are attached to a so-called magnet crawler with a fine positioning system, which also brings the system to the damaged area under water, as explained. This fine positioning system makes it possible to build up weld seams precisely next to and on top of each other. At the end of the project, it is planned to be able to carry out the entire process with a demonstrator.

(The Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is funding the joint project "Robot and laser-based 3D printing with AI support for the sustainable repair of underwater steel structures—RoLaKI" as part of the funding measure "Digital GreenTech—environmental technology meets robotics" as part of the BMFTR strategy "Research for Sustainabilityi (FONA). And the Bridge accompanying project supports the funded joint projects of the "Digital GreenTech" initiative with, as is emphasized, in-depth legal and ethical expertise).

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