Underwater Base for Autonomous Vehicle Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current marine seismic survey methods using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) face challenges in deploying and recovering seismic sensors efficiently and inexpensively, particularly in accurately positioning AUVs on the ocean bottom for effective seismic data collection.
Innovation Solution
A recovery underwater base system is introduced, equipped with a storing part, inlet part, and control part to guide and retrieve AUVs, using acoustic signals to direct AUVs from the ocean bottom to the recovery base, ensuring efficient deployment and retrieval while preventing burial into the seafloor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If AUVs are deployed on the ocean bottom to collect seismic data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for deployment and recovery systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: deployment base, recovery base, and AUVs. Each module operates independently but coordinates through acoustic communication, allowing complex seismic survey operations to be broken down into manageable segments that can be deployed and recovered separately
Solution Approach 2:
Acoustic signals serve as an intermediary communication medium between the deployment base, recovery base, and AUVs. This acoustic mediation enables coordination and control without requiring direct physical connections, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining precise control over seismic data collection operations
2Measurement precision
If AUVs are positioned accurately on the ocean bottom, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to deployment and recovery operations
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment base pre-positions AUVs on the ocean bottom at predetermined locations before the actual seismic survey begins. This preliminary positioning action ensures that AUVs are already in optimal positions when data collection starts, eliminating positioning time during the survey and maintaining high measurement precision without time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous seismic data collection by having multiple AUVs operate in sequence or parallel. While some AUVs are collecting data, others can be deployed or recovered, ensuring that the useful action of seismic surveying continues without interruption, thus reducing overall time loss despite the complexity of positioning operations
3Productivity
If traditional streamers are used for seismic surveys, then productivity is maintained, but cost increases due to expensive streamer equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces expensive, reusable streamers with cheaper, disposable AUVs. Each AUV is a self-contained unit that can be deployed, used for data collection, and then recovered or replaced. This substitution reduces equipment costs significantly while maintaining productivity, as AUVs can be rapidly deployed and operated autonomously without the need for expensive towing infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
AUVs are equipped with autonomous navigation and data collection capabilities, allowing them to perform seismic survey tasks independently without requiring continuous human intervention or expensive support infrastructure. This self-service capability reduces operational costs while maintaining high productivity, as the AUVs can operate autonomously on predetermined paths and return to recovery bases for data transfer and recharging
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
This system enables cost-effective and efficient deployment and retrieval of AUVs, enhancing seismic data collection by ensuring precise positioning and continuous operation with minimal disruption, thus improving the accuracy and efficiency of marine seismic surveys.
Implementation Method 1
The control part is further configured to guide the AUV from the ocean bottom to the inlet part
Implementation Method 2
a support part configured to support the control part, the storing part and the inlet part and to prevent a burial of the recovery underwater base into the ocean bottom
Data Source
AI summary
An underwater base for handling plural underwater vehicles equipped with seismic sensors for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The underwater base including a storing part configured to store the plural underwater vehicles; an inlet part located above the storing part and configured to control access of the plural underwater vehicles to the storing part; a control part configured to acoustically guide the plural underwater vehicles to the inlet part; and a support part configured to support the control part, the storing part and the inlet part. The storing part is further configured to receive the plural underwater vehicles as the plural underwater vehicles fall from the inlet part into the storing part.