Underwater Vehicle Tether Management for Entanglement Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance and inspection of underwater facilities face challenges due to unpredictable tether positioning caused by currents and vehicle movements, leading to a high risk of tether entanglement with facility structures.
Innovation Solution
An unmanned underwater vehicle equipped with motorized thrusters and a tether management device, including a tumbler and pulley, allows controlled unwinding and winding of the tether along a designated path, reducing entanglement risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the tether is left slack during underwater vehicle operations, then the vehicle has freedom of movement, but the tether becomes uncontrollable and entangles with facility structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate station with a tether management device positioned between the surface station and the underwater vehicle. This intermediary actively manages the tether by winding and unwinding it, maintaining proper tension and positioning while allowing the vehicle operational freedom. The intermediate station acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between vehicle mobility and tether control.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether management device at the intermediate station operates autonomously to wind and unwind the tether based on the vehicle's position and movement. The system self-regulates the tether length and tension without requiring constant manual intervention, thereby maintaining both vehicle freedom and tether control reliability.
2Reliability
If the tether is actively controlled to prevent entanglement, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases due to additional management equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The tether management system is segmented into distinct functional components: the tether itself, the intermediate station, and the tether management device with winding and unwinding mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall system architecture, making the complex function of active tether control more manageable and maintainable.
3Reliability
If the tether management device is positioned at an intermediate station, then tether control improves, but the system complexity and operational procedures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate station is positioned at an optimal depth in the water column where it can effectively manage the tether without creating excessive tension or complexity. By placing the station at this equipotential position, the system achieves balanced tether control that minimizes both mechanical stress and operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An unmanned underwater vehicle for the maintenance and inspection of permanent underwater installations has a frame; a plurality of motorized thrusters directable to navigate in a body of water; a tether to supply power and control the underwater vehicle from a remote location; and a tether management device to selectively wind and unwind the tether on board the underwater vehicle.