A Maneuverable Underwater Vehicle for Near-Seabed Observation: Introduction of NS-MUV Part 1 of 4

Original video: https://youtu.be/adjkmXAoWXE

Underwater robots can collect comprehensive information on species and habitats when conducting seabed operations, enhancing localized insights and expanding underwater ecological understanding. One approach uses autonomous underwater vehicles, but proximity operations may disturb sediments and compromise observation quality. Another approach uses wheeled or legged benthic robots, but unavoidable contact limits their application in delicate ecosystems like coral reefs. To address these challenges, we propose a maneuverable underwater vehicle for near-seabed observations. This vehicle moves with minimal turbulence and shows strong resistance to external disturbances, enabling high-quality seabed observation as close as 20 cm. It rapidly detects intense disturbances like turbulence and wall effects, allowing real-time path planning to prevent bottoming. Multiple tests in various marine environments, including sandy areas, coral reefs, and sheer rock, show low sediment disturbance and improved adaptability to rugged underwater terrain.

The NS-MUV mass is 16.3 kg. the robot’s overall length is 0.62 m, a maximum width of 0.93 m at the fuselage, and the highest point of the robot structure is 0.245 m. It comprises three subsystems: the control system, propeller drive, and disk fuselage. During active maneuvering, the NS-MUV can achieve a maximum velocity of 2 m s⁻¹ (3 bl (body length) s⁻¹) and steer at a maximum angular velocity of 180o s⁻¹. We assessed the NS-MUV capability of the NS-MUV to observe near-seabed in various terrains, including sandy-gravel terrain areas and rugged locations such as coral reef plates. Snapshots of these real environment tests showing the ability of the NS-MUV to capture detailed information about the seabed, including sand grain texture and distinct color characteristics of coral reefs, through proximity observation. The NS-MUV demonstrated minimal disturbance to the bottom during observations in the sand-gravel substrate. Across multiple trials, NS-MUV maintained a proximity of no more than 20 cm from the seabed most of the time. Remarkably, despite this proximity, no disruption of sandy gravel by the NS-MUV was observed, thereby avoiding adverse impacts on the seabed environment during observation

Watch Part 2: https://youtu.be/fDrT12Qm1SQ

Watch Part 3: https://youtu.be/ziCflrkoltg

Watch Part 4: https://youtu.be/199sULqTJZg

Keywords: Near-Seabed Underwater Vehicle, NS-MUV, Maneuverable Underwater Vehicle, Underwater Exploration, Ocean Floor, Marine Research, Robotics, Engineering, Oceanography, Marine Science, Underwater Observation.

Citation:

Liu, K., Ding, M., Pan, B. et al. A maneuverable underwater vehicle for near-seabed observation. Nat Commun 15, 10284 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54600-8

Published on: 27 November 2024

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