Autonomous Underwater Cable Laying With Hazard-Aware Path Planning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submarine cable-laying operations are costly, labor-intensive, and prone to inaccuracies due to environmental factors and geohazards, with a need for more precise cable placement and reduced human intervention.
Innovation Solution
An underwater vehicle equipped with positioning, propulsion, and cable-laying mechanisms, combined with path planning algorithms like FMM/SA, to autonomously navigate and lay cables while adapting to real-time terrain data, avoiding hazards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cable-laying operations are conducted manually with human intervention, then flexibility in handling complex situations is improved, but cost and time consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables autonomous cable-laying operations where the AUV independently navigates, monitors cable placement, and adjusts to environmental conditions without continuous human intervention. The automated path planning and real-time monitoring systems allow the vehicle to service itself through autonomous decision-making based on sensor data and pre-programmed algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual mechanical operations by divers and ship crews are replaced with automated electronic systems including AUVs equipped with sensors, processors, and automated cable-laying mechanisms. The mechanical systems are substituted with electronic control systems that process sensor data and execute cable-laying operations autonomously.
2Ease of operation
If cable placement is performed without automated monitoring, then operational simplicity is maintained, but placement accuracy deteriorates due to environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time feedback through sensors that monitor cable position, depth, and environmental conditions during laying operations. This feedback is processed by onboard computers that automatically adjust cable-laying parameters to maintain precise placement accuracy despite waves, currents, and other environmental disturbances.
Solution Approach 2:
The AUV system performs multiple functions including autonomous navigation, real-time cable monitoring, environmental sensing, and automated path adjustment within a single integrated platform. This multi-functional system maintains operational simplicity while achieving high precision through coordinated execution of multiple tasks.
3Device complexity
If traditional cable-laying methods are used in deep water, then operational complexity is reduced, but cable placement accuracy worsens due to exposure to environmental turbulences
Solution Approach 1:
The AUV serves as an intermediary between the cable-laying ship and the seafloor, providing stable, automated cable placement in deep water. The AUV acts as a mediator that buffers the cable-laying process against environmental turbulences while maintaining precise control, eliminating the need for complex manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic, adaptive cable-laying operations where the AUV continuously adjusts its path and cable release rate based on real-time environmental conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain simplicity in operation while achieving high precision through automated real-time adjustments to changing sea states and currents.
4Reliability
If multiple engineering surveys are conducted manually to optimize cable path, then cable reliability is improved, but time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Comprehensive seafloor surveys and hazard identification are conducted in advance using AUVs equipped with sonar and imaging sensors before cable-laying operations begin. This preliminary action maps the entire cable route, identifies geohazards, and enables automated path planning that ensures cable reliability while eliminating the need for repeated manual surveys during the laying process.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual engineering surveys conducted by ships and divers are replaced with automated AUV-based survey systems that use sonar, LIDAR, and other sensors to map the seafloor and identify hazards. This substitution dramatically reduces survey time and cost while maintaining or improving the quality of reliability assessment through more comprehensive and consistent data collection.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a cable planning method based a fast marching method applied with simulated annealing (FMM/SA) algorithm. In the FMM/SA algorithm-based cable planning method, the FMM used to obtain the optimal submarine cable path with the lowest life-cycle cost, and the SA algorithm is used to continuously adjust the weight of each design consideration with the aim to achieve an optimal cable path that is as close as possible to a real-life cable path which has a history of cost-effectiveness and resilience. The set of weights contributed to the optimal cable path is then used as an optimal set of weights of design considerations for cable path planning. The FMM/SA algorithm-based cable planning method can provide a computationally effective approach which has lower computation costs and better performance in generating cable paths with optimal life-cycle cost and reliability.