Movable Sensor Unit for Underwater Vehicle Contour Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unmanned underwater vehicles face challenges in quickly and precisely detecting structures and contours of underwater objects due to permanently mounted sensor units that cannot adapt to changing structures, requiring frequent operator-controlled adjustments, which slows down mission implementation.
Innovation Solution
A movable sensor unit that can be positioned in a tangential direction by a positioning device, allowing for automatic alignment with the object being examined, using a combination of optical and acoustic sensors, including a multibeam active sonar, to detect and adapt to changing structures and contours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensor units are permanently mounted on the underwater vehicle, then the vehicle structure is simple and stable, but the sensor units cannot adapt to changing structures and contours of underwater objects, requiring frequent operator-controlled adjustments which slows down mission implementation
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is made dynamically positionable relative to the underwater vehicle through a positioning device that allows movement in at least one direction. This enables the sensor unit to adapt its position to different structures and contours of underwater objects, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity by introducing controlled dynamics only where needed for sensor placement.
2Productivity
If operator-controlled adjustments are used to align sensor units with underwater objects, then the vehicle structure remains simple, but the mission implementation speed decreases due to frequent manual adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning device is equipped with control information that enables it to position the sensor unit autonomously without operator intervention. The device can automatically align the sensor unit with detected structures and contours, allowing the system to serve itself and eliminating the need for manual adjustments, thereby increasing mission implementation speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor information about detected structures and contours as feedback to automatically adjust the sensor unit position. The positioning device receives control information based on detected features and autonomously positions the sensor unit to optimize detection, creating a closed-loop system that eliminates manual intervention and speeds up mission implementation.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor unit is movable and automatically positioned, then the detection speed and precision improve, but the device complexity increases due to the positioning mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning function is segmented as a separate positioning device distinct from the main vehicle structure. This modular approach allows the sensor unit to be positioned independently with precise control while keeping the rest of the vehicle structure simple. The segmentation enables high measurement precision through dedicated positioning mechanisms without unnecessarily complicating the entire system.
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
Enables rapid and precise detection of underwater structures and contours, allowing for comprehensive scanning of large areas like underwater walls or ship hulls, reducing the need for operator intervention and enhancing mission efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
using a combination of optical and acoustic sensors, including a multibeam active sonar, to detect and adapt to changing structures and contours
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The unmanned underwater vehicle (1) has a sensor unit (7) arranged in a tangential direction (12). The sensor unit is arranged tangentially to a longitudinal axis (14) of the underwater vehicle, or parallel to longitudinal axis. A positioning device (13) is positionable in the tangential direction by pre-determining the sensor information (8). An independent claim is also included for a method for operating an unmanned underwater vehicle.