FIELD:
underwater equipment.SUBSTANCE: invention is intended for precise automatic docking and fixation of autonomous unmanned
underwater vehicles (AUVs) using bottom
mooring devices (BMDs). For automatic docking and fixation of an autonomous
unmanned underwater vehicle on bottom
mooring devices, an
underwater vehicle is used with the ability to detect bottom
mooring devices using a hydroacoustic
navigation system installed on it. Using the onboard
control system, the
underwater vehicle stabilizes its position in the working area of the
manipulator with a given orientation to its grip; simultaneously with the last command, a
signal is sent using the hydroacoustic
navigation system of the
underwater vehicle about its arrival in the area of the bottom mooring device. After receiving this hydroacoustic
signal from the hydroacoustic
navigation system, a
machine vision
system installed near the
manipulator's grip is turned on, and with its help, the spatial location of the clamp of the gripping device located in the bow part of the
underwater vehicle’s
hull is detected, and then, with the help of the technical vision
system and the
manipulator control system, its open grip is smoothly moved towards the clamp until the
contact sensor, located inside the gripper jaws, is triggered; upon the
signal from the
contact sensor, the gripper jaws are closed, fixing the underwater vehicle in the water space. Using the manipulator
control system, the corresponding control signals are sent to the manipulator drives, smoothly moving the underwater vehicle to the bottom mooring device platform; during this movement, the underwater vehicle’s thrusters maintain its horizontal position; said movement of the underwater vehicle by the manipulator is completed after the activation of the locking devices located, respectively, on the underwater vehicle and the bottom mooring device. After said fixation, using contactless devices located inside the fixing devices, the underwater vehicle's batteries are recharged via a cable-
rope, information is exchanged between this underwater vehicle and the accompanying vessel, or the underwater vehicle is quickly lifted onto this vessel using a
winch.EFFECT: precise and rapid docking of the AUV with the charging device or with the device for its rapid ascent to the surface, as well as rigid fixation of the AUV at a given point in the water space when the onboard equipment of this apparatus performs arbitrary working operations.1 cl, 1 dwg