Underwater robots
An underwater robot (abbreviation UWR , English underwater robot ) is a small cable-controlled robot for research, search and rescue work under water.
Underwater robots belong in a broader sense to the family of unmanned underwater vehicles or UUVs (from English unmanned underwater vehicles ). UUV is the umbrella term for all unmanned submersible vehicles and robots that work underwater. These are divided into these two groups:
- remotely operated underwater vehicles or ROVs (actually ROUVs)
- autonomous underwater vehicles or AUVs
An underwater robot is connected like an ROV with a cable connection for the transmission of energy and information to the surface of the water and is remotely controlled from there, but its structure is much simpler. In contrast to the ROVs, which can move independently and can be used to great depths, underwater robots do not have their own drive for locomotion and are therefore not to be classified as underwater vehicles in this sense. Underwater robots are only lowered vertically on the cable at depths of up to 100 meters into the water in order to specifically research and retrieve objects. These systems, equipped with grippers, can be used very flexibly thanks to battery operation and are extremely cost-effective even compared to small ROVs. Its strength lies in its low dead weight, with a relatively enormous lifting force and very flexible application options.
construction
Underwater robots are portable devices that weigh only 15 to 20 kilograms and can be operated by a single person. They consist of an underwater unit with a high-resolution video camera and a movable gripper, which are connected to a control unit and the batteries by cable. The control unit has a monitor and usually also a digital video recorder (DVR) to save the video recordings, as well as control switches to control the camera, the lighting and the gripper. Thanks to the energy-saving LC display and the LED lighting, a UWR can be operated for up to 8 hours on one battery charge.
function
In principle, the underwater world can be explored with an underwater robot using the camera, which can also be rotated or zoomed. With various types of grabs, objects lying on the ground or sunk deep in the mud up to a meter wide can be picked up and retrieved from depths of up to 100 meters. This makes it possible to work significantly longer, risk-free and more effectively under water than a diver would be able to do . Compared to small ROVs, which only have very little lifting power, objects weighing up to 150 kilograms can be lifted with an underwater robot. A stabilizing fin attached to the back allows the underwater robot to be towed underwater and also maintains a stable position in flowing water. By using a grid-shaped grab basket, it is even possible to use an underwater robot to catch crabs.
application
There are many possible uses for underwater robots:
- In water protection for the control and removal of waste.
- At the police and ambulance service to retrieve evidence and drowned people.
- In ports and on boats to retrieve objects that have fallen into the water.
- For removing obstacles under water.
- In areas that are dangerous for divers or difficult to access depths.
- For exploration and recovery during underwater archeology and treasure hunts.
- When disposing of ordnance under water, for tracking down and retrieving duds, ammunition and the like.
- In industrial sewage treatment plants and cooling towers, as well as in small shafts.
- For the inspection and cleaning of tanks in large aquariums.
- In the fishery to catch crabs .