This week in class I was tasked to research different types of underwater unmanned maritime vehicles, and come up with a viable solution for dealing with the following scenario.

The CS JUSSANK, has sunk in Lake Superior and is believed to be sitting at a depth of at least 2,500 feet underwater. The crew has been rescued, but there is cargo on board that needs to be recovered and is potentially dangerous if left unattended. Along with the copper cable being transported, there is radioactive material stored in small waterproof crates deep within the hull. The exact position of the wreck itself is unknown, but it lies within a 90-square mile quadrant. We must determine what type of UMV is to be used for the search and recovery operation.

Location, Limits, and Timeframe 
 
For this mission application, I chose to go with the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) “SuBastian” by Schmidt Ocean Institute. The SuBastian can switch between ROV and AUV mode.  This means it can be operated by an operator with a live tether or operated autonomously with pre-determined commands. The SuBastian has a maximum operating depth of 4500 meters which makes it a suitable option for his mission (Schmidt, n.d.). While tethered, the SuBastian has an unlimited operation time, eliminating the need for power supply or battery swap outs.  And with an operation speed of up to 3 knots (3.452 MPH), the SuBastian would be able to make eight, ten mile passes, utilizing 300m sonar to extend its coverage, allowing to complete the search pattern in just under 24 hours. Additional systems to assist in the detection of the JUSSANK include Sidescan Sonar, Magnetometer, Sub-Bottom Profiler, Photographic Seafloor, and  3d/2d Mosaicing (Schmidt, n.d.).


Figure 1. SuBastian. Retrieved from Schmidt Ocean Institute 16 July 2018.

Examination

Once on scene, the SuBastian has an array of systems to assist with the operation.  Live feed will allow for a real-time view of the mission as well as recording, and a camera array of HD situational video, HD science zoom, HD multi Seacam and HD still images that can be captured (Schmidt, n.d.). To assist robot positioning, there are also port and starboard side cameras, an umbilical camera, a rearview camera, a manipulator arm camera, and 3 payload cameras. For sampling, the SuBastian can be equipped with a carbon dioxide sensor, Nitrate Sensor, In-situ Mass Spectrometer, High-Temperature Water Sensor, Bimolecular Analyzer, and Fluorimeter. Sampling can be achieved with the use of a Multi-Chamber Suction Sampler, Push Core Sampler, and a Rock Saw/Cutter/Splitter.  Finally, all of the samples collected can be safely stored in two Multi-chamber Insulated Bioboxes (Schmidt, n.d.).

Recovery

For recovery, the SuBastian has two, seven-axis Manipulator arms to be able to handle tools and collect samples, equipment or cargo. The “small waterproof crates” as described in the mission detail can be recovered with these arms and possibly placed in the Bioboxes on the SuBastian for recovery. Lighting on board the SuBastian to assist in recovery operations process over 400,000lm from four spotlights, two strobe lights, ten floodlights and six local area lights.



Figure 2. SuBastian manipulator arms. Retrieved from Schmidt 16 June 2018.
Reference
Schmidt Ocean Institute. (n.d.). 4500 m remotely operated vehicle (ROV SuBastian). Retrieved from https://schmidtocean.org/technology/robotic-platforms/4500-m-remotely-operated-vehicle-rov/



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

5.4 - Research Blog 4: Unmanned Systems Space-Based Applications

Human-Based or Unmanned Space Exploration  This week in class we were tasked to research an article about spaceflight that discusses whether manned or unmanned space travel would be the best option moving forward and if spaceflight should still be attempted. The viewpoint I found was Defending Spaceflight, The Echoes of Apollo, by Robert Rovetto. In Spaceflight (Rovetto, 2016) immediately starts the article by defending the need for spaceflight. Rovetto supports that claim with the notion that human beings have the need and the desire to explore, and in this instance explore the worlds beyond. Rovetto continues by pointing out that manned and unmanned space exploration is not an “either-or” option (Rovetto, 2016). Both modes of space travel can exist together and should exist together because each method provides different results. The method of space travel should not be poised against each other. With that said, Rovetto does eventually lean on the side of manned space expl...
Read more
Image
3.4 – Research Blog 2 – Unmanned Maritime Systems   Today, the Unmanned Systems world is largely based, or at least largely recognized, as the industry that includes “drones” that fly in the air like the MQ-9, manufactured by General Atomics (Military, n.d.), or drones from Amazon that can deliver our all-important packages to your home (Shaban, 2018). But now there is a large focus being put on Unmanned Maritime Systems (UMS) both for the military and in the civilian sector. The U.S. Navy is now ramping up operations to provide these type of UMV’s and has several projects that are being developed for the to the larges seagoing service in the world. According to Eckstein, 2017, key programs that he Navy ids working on include “Kingfish”, “Snakehead” and “ADARO” (Eckstein, 2017). Kingfish The Kingfish is an autonomous UMV will detect and classify buried mines and mines in high-clutter environments. On advantage of the Kingfish, that a majority of other UMV does not provide,...
Read more