Underwater robots are more magical than you think

While the world is changing with each passing day, rescue equipment is also changing. Taking the example of lifesaving in the waters, in 1998, when floods were flooded and floods were rescued, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) used its shoulder sacks to block flood discharges, and life-saving rubber assault boats were used, relying more on manpower to resist floods. Nowadays, with the development of science and technology, there are more scientific and technological contents for rescue equipment, such as tossing devices, life-saving remote-control boats, salvage float rods, underwater robots and so on.

Today, Xiao Bian will take you to understand underwater robots and see how it is in the waters.

What is an underwater robot?

First, the standard definition

An underwater robot is a device that can move underwater, has a vision and perception system, performs underwater tasks by a remote / autonomous operation mode, and uses a robot.

â–³ Small observation underwater robot

â–³ Underwater working robot with robot

â–³ Self-propelled underwater robot without a cable like a torpedo

Second, the classification of underwater robots

At present, there are more than 270 types of underwater robots in the world, which can be divided into manned submersibles HOV , autonomous underwater robots AUV , and cabled remote control robots ROV .

1. Manned Submersible HUV

Manned submersibles are equivalent to small submarines that can carry workers into the deep sea and operate manipulators to carry out various complex underwater surveys, salvage, sampling and other activities.

The maximum dive depth of "Dragon" is 7,062 meters , and the water pressure it receives is equivalent to 700 kilograms of pressure applied to the area of ​​a small finger.

However, manned submersibles are bulky, costly, risky, and inflexible. They are less used in practice and most manned submersibles are used in scientific research.

2. Autonomous Underwater Robot AUV

AUV has no cables, carries its own power, and relies on the built-in control system to be controlled by me. It can flexibly and autonomously complete a series of underwater tasks.

â–³In order to reduce the underwater submarine resistance, the framework of the closed framework of the bionic streamline is adopted.

â–³ can automatically bypass obstacles

AUV has the advantages of wide range of activities, large depth of dive, can shuttle into complex structures, and does not need water surface support, and represents the development direction of underwater robot technology. However, the current life and load capacity are limited, AUV can only complete some short-range and light-load work, such as camera, camera, search, measurement and so on.

â–³ used to find the Malaysia Airlines MH370 black box Remus-6000 type AUV

At present , the transmission of AUV underwater big data information cannot be completely solved in the form of cableless. Some people have asked the "Cursic" detectors on Mars to realize infinite signal transmission! This is because seawater can severely block signals, and wireless transmission of deep-sea big data is much more difficult than space. Therefore, Robo-controlled Robot ( ROV ) is currently the most widely used underwater robot.

3. Cable-controlled robot ROV

The operator remotely controls the ROV on the ship to perform underwater observation, inspection, and construction operations.

1, Pass the umbilical cable to transmit power, transmit data in real time

2. The umbilical cable provides convenience for the transmission of power and data, but it also limits the ROV 's range of motion to a certain degree. At the same time, the umbilical cable's breakage also causes the loss of the robot.

3, the umbilical cable is like a long tail

The earliest ROV was used for tasks such as salvaging weapons and clearing mines. However, with the rise of the marine economy, more than 90% of ROVs currently serve the offshore oil industry directly or indirectly.

4. Application of ROV Robot

1. Sealed and pressure-proof housing

ROV works in the harsh marine environment. Seawater not only causes corrosion to electronic systems, but also has deep water pressure. The sealed, pressure-resistant housing ensures stable, long-lasting ROV operation.

2. Power system

The underwater thruster is the ROV engine. The ROV can move forward and backward, float up and down, traverse, pitch, roll, and rotate horizontally to achieve six dimensions of motion.

3. Observation and lighting system

The underwater robot also has a camera and a camera. When the undersea light is insufficient, special lights can be turned on.

4. Underwater operation function

Manipulator: ROV's left hand function is often simple, but its power is larger. It is mainly used to grasp objects. The right hand is flexible and the work accuracy is high. There are usually 5 to 7 "joints".

5. With external tools

In order to achieve more functions, ROV 's manipulators can also carry many external tools such as cutters, underwater cleaning brushes, wheel saws, impact handlers, breakers, and more.

6. Sensors, communications, control systems

The sensor system includes a depth sensor, an electronic compass, and a temperature sensor; the communication system is a bridge for information exchange between the ROV and the water surface console; the control system is a core part of the ROV and is composed of complicated and sophisticated instruments.

Third, the application of underwater robots

1 , offshore oil development

With the gradual development of offshore oil exploration into deep water, the installation of underwater facilities, the laying of submarine pipelines, and the overhaul of subsea installations, the Frogman is no longer able to afford it. As a result, ROVs with superior underwater operating capabilities have become an unbeatable choice.

2 , grab samples

In 2014 , the “Arctic ARV ” underwater robot developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences completed the measurement of parameters such as sea ice thickness, ice bottom form, and marine environment.

3 , safe search and rescue

Can be used to check whether dams and piers are equipped with explosives and the structure is good or bad

Remote control reconnaissance and inspection of dangerous goods

Underwater array assists in installation / removal

Detection of ship-side and ship-bottom smuggled goods ( public security, customs )

Underwater target observation, ruins, collapsed mine search and rescue, etc.;

Search underwater evidence ( public security, customs )

Sea salvage, offshore search;

4 , archeology

Underwater archeology, underwater shipwreck inspection

5 , fishery

Deep-water cage fishery culture, artificial reef survey.

This article comes from the Internet, and is collected and reorganized by China Rescue Equipment Network. Please indicate the link.