Self-Powered Subsea Package for UUV Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current subsea operations involving unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) face inefficiencies due to the need for UUVs to remain tethered or on station for extended periods, limiting their availability for other tasks and increasing operational costs, as they must support and power tools and sensors, which restricts their use and requires additional UUVs or complex systems.
Innovation Solution
A submersible package system where UUVs carry and deploy self-powered tools or sensors to subsea structures, allowing the UUV to stand off and perform other tasks while the package operates autonomously, with on-board power and control units enabling tasks like inspection, monitoring, and maintenance, and optional self-propulsion and data communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UUVs remain tethered to support ships for extended periods to support and power tools and sensors, then reliable power and control are ensured, but UUV availability for other tasks is reduced and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the operational setup into separate components: a self-powered submersible package deployed at the subsea structure and a UUV that can stand off and perform other tasks. This segmentation allows the package to operate autonomously with its own power unit while the UUV is freed for other operations, resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable power supply and preserving UUV availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The submersible package is equipped with its own on-board power unit that provides electrical power to tools and sensors without requiring continuous connection to the UUV or support ship. This self-service capability enables the package to maintain operational reliability independently while the UUV can be deployed for other tasks, eliminating the trade-off between power reliability and productivity.
2Reliability
If UUVs remain on station for extended periods to support and control tools and sensors, then task completion is ensured, but UUV tie-up time increases and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the task execution function into a self-powered submersible package that can operate autonomously at the subsea structure. This allows the UUV to complete its deployment function and then stand off, freeing it from continuous occupation while the package independently completes inspection, monitoring, maintenance or construction tasks, thereby reducing UUV tie-up time while ensuring task completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The submersible package includes its own on-board controller and power unit that enable it to perform tasks autonomously without continuous UUV presence. This self-service capability ensures task completion while minimizing the time the UUV is tied up, as the package can operate independently once deployed.
3Productivity
If multiple UUVs are deployed in parallel to perform tasks simultaneously, then project timeline is reduced, but operational complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables a single UUV to perform multiple functions by first deploying a submersible package for inspection or monitoring tasks, then using the same UUV for other operations such as tool deployment or maintenance. This multi-functionality approach increases project throughput without requiring multiple specialized UUVs, thereby improving productivity while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The self-powered submersible package performs specific tasks autonomously at subsea structures, allowing a single UUV to service multiple locations and structures sequentially rather than requiring multiple UUVs to operate simultaneously. This reduces system complexity while maintaining high productivity through efficient utilization of a single UUV for diverse tasks.
Data Source
AI summary
An inspection, monitoring, maintenance or construction task is performed on a subsea structure by using an underwater vehicle to carry a submersible package to the subsea structure. The package comprises a tool or sensor arranged to perform the required task on the subsea structure, and an on-board power unit and controller arranged to power and control the tool or sensor. The package is transferred from the underwater vehicle to be supported by the subsea structure. The underwater vehicle can then stand off from the package. While the package is supported by the subsea structure, the tool or sensor of the package performs the required task on the subsea structure, powered and controlled by the on-board power unit and controller of the package.