Autonomous Underwater Cleaning Vehicle with Variable Buoyancy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for preventing biofouling on underwater objects like cables and arrays are ineffective and pose health risks, as anti-fouling paints lose efficacy quickly and are hazardous to handle.

Innovation Solution

A low-power autonomous vehicle system equipped with UV LEDs or brushes that move along underwater objects, using variable buoyancy to traverse the water column and a magnet to target specific areas, providing a non-toxic and reusable solution for biofouling removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If anti-fouling paint is applied to underwater objects, then biofouling prevention is achieved initially, but the paint loses effectiveness after about 12 months and requires reapplication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiofouling prevention effectivenessVSAvoidpaint effectiveness duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle performs self-service cleaning by removing biofouling from underwater objects without requiring external intervention or reapplication of coatings. The vehicle autonomously navigates to the underwater object, activates cleaning devices (UV LEDs or brushes), and removes biofouling, thereby maintaining continuous protection without time limitation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the chemical protection system (anti-fouling paint) with a mechanical/physical cleaning system (autonomous vehicle with UV LEDs or brushes). This substitution eliminates the time-dependent degradation inherent in chemical coatings and provides on-demand cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If anti-fouling paint is used to prevent biofouling, then initial protection is provided, but the paint presents health risks during application and handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiofouling preventionVSAvoidhealth hazards from paint

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces toxic chemical paint systems with non-toxic physical/UV-based cleaning systems. The autonomous vehicle uses UV LEDs or mechanical brushes that eliminate biofouling without releasing harmful chemicals into the environment or posing health risks to operators during application and handling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable or replaceable cleaning components (UV LEDs, brush elements) on the autonomous vehicle that can be easily replaced when worn or depleted, eliminating the need for hazardous paint materials and their associated health risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If anti-fouling paint is applied to housings, then biofouling prevention is achieved, but curing in ovens requires masking and separate painting, adding delays to the project timeline

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiofouling preventionVSAvoidproject timeline delays

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The autonomous vehicle provides self-service cleaning capability that eliminates the time-consuming pre-deployment painting process. Housings do not need to be masked, painted, and cured in ovens before deployment, as the vehicle can clean them in-situ after deployment, thereby eliminating project timeline delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs cleaning action after deployment rather than before, reversing the traditional sequence. By cleaning housings in-situ using the autonomous vehicle, the system eliminates the need for preliminary painting and curing operations that cause project delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively extends the life of deployed underwater arrays by preventing biofouling without toxic chemicals, ensuring reliable and efficient cleaning while conserving power and maintaining acoustic properties.

Implementation Method 1

The autonomous vehicle further includes a variable buoyancy mechanism configured to control a buoyancy of the autonomous vehicle, such that the autonomous vehicle moves up and/or down a water column

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS10730080B1Low-power cleaning of underwater cable/array

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

AI summary

A low-power system for cleaning an underwater object, comprising an autonomous vehicle configured to move along a surface of an underwater object to be cleaned, the autonomous vehicle including a cleaning device. The cleaning device is configured to remove biofouling from the surface of the underwater object. The autonomous vehicle further includes a variable buoyancy mechanism configured to control a buoyancy of the autonomous vehicle, such that the autonomous vehicle moves up and/or down an underwater object.