Multi-Depth Underwater Vehicle Control for Collision-Free Seabed Survey
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater vehicle systems face inefficiencies and safety concerns when exploring wide water areas, particularly when multiple vehicles are deployed, due to limitations in control complexity, movement restrictions, and susceptibility to errors and collisions.
Innovation Solution
An operating method and system that deploy multiple underwater vehicles to different exploration depths, allowing them to execute missions independently under on-water control, with non-vertical cruising paths to prevent collisions and enhance safety, while utilizing acoustic positioning and communication for precise control and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple underwater vehicles are introduced to efficiently research a wide water area, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to complicated control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into multiple independent control units, each responsible for specific underwater vehicles. This allows parallel control of multiple vehicles without overwhelming a single control system, thereby improving research efficiency while managing control complexity through distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with universal functionality to manage multiple underwater vehicles simultaneously. The system can adapt to control different types of vehicles (autonomous and remotely operated) using standardized protocols, reducing the overall complexity despite managing multiple vehicles.
2Productivity
If multiple underwater vehicles are deployed to explore wide water areas, then productivity is improved, but reliability decreases due to increased risk of collisions and uncontrolled states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements real-time feedback mechanisms where each underwater vehicle continuously reports its position, status, and environmental data to the control system. The control system processes this feedback and adjusts vehicle paths dynamically to prevent collisions and maintain safe operations, thereby improving reliability while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary risk assessment and collision avoidance planning before vehicles are deployed. Control algorithms pre-calculate safe paths and potential collision zones, allowing the system to take preventive actions before collisions can occur, thus enhancing safety without compromising research efficiency.
3Productivity
If the number of underwater vehicles is increased to research wide water areas, then productivity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complicated control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The underwater vehicles are equipped with autonomous navigation capabilities that allow them to self-manage their operations to a significant extent. They can independently follow pre-programmed paths, avoid obstacles, and return to base without constant human intervention. This self-service capability reduces the operational burden on controllers while maintaining high research productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary autonomous control system that acts as a mediator between human operators and underwater vehicles. This intermediary layer handles routine control tasks, path planning, and vehicle coordination automatically, simplifying the operator's interface and making the system easier to operate despite managing multiple vehicles.
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 approach enables efficient and safe exploration of both shallow and deep water regions, preventing collisions and improving data accuracy by allocating specific exploration missions and depths to each vehicle, allowing for precise imaging and geological research.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic positioning means for measuring a position of the underwater vehicle
Implementation Method 2
communication means for performing communication with the underwater vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an operating method and an operating system of a multiple underwater vehicles 30, wherein exploration missions and exploration depths of the multiple underwater vehicles 30 are differently set in the underwater vehicles 30 for exploring a water bottom, the multiple underwater vehicles 30 are submerged to the respective set exploration depths, the multiple underwater vehicles 30 are made to cruise at the respective set exploration depths to execute the exploration missions, and execution results of the exploration missions are recorded and/or transmitted. According to this, it is possible to deploy and operate the multiple underwater vehicles and safely and efficiently explore the water bottom.