A method of constructing and assembling a floating wind turbine platform includes constructing pre-stressed concrete sections of a floating wind turbine platform base, assembling the floating wind turbine platform base sections to form the base at a first location in a floating wind turbine platform assembly area, and moving the base to a second location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area. Pre-stressed concrete sections of floating wind turbine platform columns are constructed, and the column sections are assembled to form a center column and a plurality of outer columns on the base to define a hull at the second location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area. The hull is then moved to a third location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area. Secondary structures are mounted on and within the hull, and the hull is moved to a fourth location in the floating wind turbine platform assembly area. A wind turbine tower is constructed on the center column, and a wind turbine is mounted on the wind turbine tower, thus defining the floating wind turbine platform. The floating wind turbine platform is then moved to a launch platform in a fifth location and launched into a body of water.

Described herein is an offshore buoyant structure, a floating buoyant structure, and methods of loading and unloading a floatable wind turbine substructure. The offshore buoyant structure includes a split hull constructed and dimensioned in a manner to provide a long moon pool; and a floatable wind turbine substructure accommodated by the split hull and configured to receive a floating wind turbine with a portion of the floating wind turbine extending downwardly into the long moon pool such that relative motion between at least the offshore buoyant structure and the floatable wind turbine substructure or floating wind turbine when received by the floatable wind turbine substructure is minimized. The floating buoyant structure includes a split hull constructed and dimensioned in a manner to provide a long moon pool, the split hull is configured to accommodate a floatable wind turbine substructure or a floating wind turbine assembly and minimize relative motion therebetween.

Described herein is an offshore buoyant structure, a floating buoyant structure, and methods of loading and unloading a floatable wind turbine substructure. The offshore buoyant structure includes a split hull constructed and dimensioned in a manner to provide a long moon pool; and a floatable wind turbine substructure accommodated by the split hull and configured to receive a floating wind turbine with a portion of the floating wind turbine extending downwardly into the long moon pool such that relative motion between at least the offshore buoyant structure and the floatable wind turbine substructure or floating wind turbine when received by the floatable wind turbine substructure is minimized. The floating buoyant structure includes a split hull constructed and dimensioned in a manner to provide a long moon pool, the split hull is configured to accommodate a floatable wind turbine substructure or a floating wind turbine assembly and minimize relative motion therebetween.

A floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit useful for assembling or maintaining wind turbines at an offshore location is disclosed. The floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit may include a first vessel spaced a distance apart from a second vessel, and an extended deck coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. The extended deck is positioned in the distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, and the extended deck is configured as a dry dock disposed or movable to a height above a sea level. In some embodiments, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movably coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. For example, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movable between a submerged or near sea level position and a position above a sea level.

A floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit useful for assembling or maintaining wind turbines at an offshore location is disclosed. The floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit may include a first vessel spaced a distance apart from a second vessel, and an extended deck coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. The extended deck is positioned in the distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, and the extended deck is configured as a dry dock disposed or movable to a height above a sea level. In some embodiments, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movably coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. For example, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movable between a submerged or near sea level position and a position above a sea level.

A floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit useful for assembling or maintaining wind turbines at an offshore location is disclosed. The floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit may include a first vessel spaced a distance apart from a second vessel, and an extended deck coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. The extended deck is positioned in the distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, and the extended deck is configured as a dry dock disposed or movable to a height above a sea level. In some embodiments, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movably coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. For example, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movable between a submerged or near sea level position and a position above a sea level.

A floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit useful for assembling or maintaining wind turbines at an offshore location is disclosed. The floating offshore wind turbine assembly unit may include a first vessel spaced a distance apart from a second vessel, and an extended deck coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. The extended deck is positioned in the distance between the first vessel and the second vessel, and the extended deck is configured as a dry dock disposed or movable to a height above a sea level. In some embodiments, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movably coupled to the first vessel and the second vessel. For example, the extended deck or a portion thereof is movable between a submerged or near sea level position and a position above a sea level.

One variation of a method includes: accessing a maximum deflection distance of a workpiece; defining a first workpiece region characterized by a first compliance range; defining a second workpiece region characterized by a second compliance range greater than the first compliance range; assigning a nominal target force to the workpiece; navigating a sanding head across the first workpiece region during a processing cycle; driving the sanding head below a virtual unloaded surface of the workpiece stored in the virtual model to maintain forces, of the sanding head on the first workpiece region, approximating the nominal target force; calculating a maximum offset between the positions of the sanding head in the first workpiece region and the virtual unloaded surface; and, in response to the first maximum offset approaching the maximum deflection distance, assigning a lower target force to the second workpiece region of the workpiece.

An alignment jig (10) configured to support and orient a load (500). The alignment jig (10) may form part of an alignment system (300). The alignment jig (10) comprises a first base unit (100) configured to carry a first support unit (200), the first support unit (200) being configured to support the load (500) and to space the first base unit (100) apart from the load (500). The first support unit (200) is moveable relative to the first base unit (100). The first base unit (100) comprises a first base unit actuation system (110) operable to act on the first support unit (200) along a first base unit operational axis X1. The first support unit (200) comprises a first support unit actuation system (210) operable to act on the load (500) along a first support unit operational axis Y1.

An alignment jig (10) configured to support and orient a load (500). The alignment jig (10) may form part of an alignment system (300). The alignment jig (10) comprises a first base unit (100) configured to carry a first support unit (200), the first support unit (200) being configured to support the load (500) and to space the first base unit (100) apart from the load (500). The first support unit (200) is moveable relative to the first base unit (100). The first base unit (100) comprises a first base unit actuation system (110) operable to act on the first support unit (200) along a first base unit operational axis X1. The first support unit (200) comprises a first support unit actuation system (210) operable to act on the load (500) along a first support unit operational axis Y1.