Underwater vehicle (10) for navigating relative to a structure 11 submerged in a body of water. The vehicle (10) includes a body (12) defining a peripheral region (14), one or more drive mechanisms (16), and a plurality of imaging modules (18) carried by the body (12) to face away from the peripheral region (14). The plurality of imaging modules (18) are configured to operate concurrently to allow imaging at least partially about at least two of a front (20), opposed sides (22, 24), top (34) and bottom (35) of the body (12). The vehicle (10) also includes a controller (26) communicatively coupled with the imaging modules (18) and the drive mechanisms (16), and configured to control operation of the drive mechanisms (16) to navigate the vehicle (10) about the structure based on images captured by the imaging modules (18).
Underwater vehicle (10) for navigating relative to a structure 11 submerged in a body of water. The vehicle (10) includes a body (12) defining a peripheral region (14), one or more drive mechanisms (16), and a plurality of imaging modules (18) carried by the body (12) to face away from the peripheral region (14). The plurality of imaging modules (18) are configured to operate concurrently to allow imaging at least partially about at least two of a front (20), opposed sides (22, 24), top (34) and bottom (35) of the body (12). The vehicle (10) also includes a controller (26) communicatively coupled with the imaging modules (18) and the drive mechanisms (16), and configured to control operation of the drive mechanisms (16) to navigate the vehicle (10) about the structure based on images captured by the imaging modules (18).
A system for cleaning a structure arranged in a body of water. The system includes: a vehicle operable to move through the water and clean the structure; a tether connectable between the vehicle and a fixed position; a deployment mechanism securable relative to the structure and configured to move the vehicle into, and out of, the water; and a processing unit configured to communicate with the vehicle and the deployment mechanism. The processing unit is configured to execute a repeating cleaning schedule to cause the deployment mechanism to operate to move the vehicle into the water, the vehicle to operate to clean at least a portion of the structure, and the mechanism to operate to remove the vehicle from the water.
B63B 59/08 - Dispositifs de nettoyage des coques des parties immergées à flot
B08B 1/32 - Nettoyage par des procédés impliquant l'utilisation d'outils par le mouvement d’éléments de nettoyage sur une surface utilisant des éléments de nettoyage rotatifs
B63G 8/00 - Navires submersibles, p. ex. sous-marins
B63G 8/38 - Disposition des instruments de veille optique ou électronique, p. ex. périscopes ou radars
B63G 8/39 - Disposition des instruments de veille sonique, p. ex. basse fréquence, sonar
G05D 1/00 - Commande de la position, du cap, de l'altitude ou de l'attitude des véhicules terrestres, aquatiques, aériens ou spatiaux, p. ex. utilisant des pilotes automatiques
System (10) for cleaning a structure arranged in a body of water (12). The system (10) includes: a vehicle (14) operable to move through the water (12) and clean the structure; a tether (16) connectable between the vehicle (14) and a fixed position; a deployment mechanism (18) securable relative to the structure and configured to move the vehicle (14) into, and out of, the water (12); and a processing unit (20) configured to communicate with the vehicle (14) and the deployment mechanism (18). The processing unit (20) is configured to execute a repeating cleaning schedule to cause the deployment mechanism (18) to operate to move the vehicle (14) into the water (12), the vehicle (14) to operate to clean at least a portion of the structure, and the mechanism (18) to operate to remove the vehicle (14) from the water.
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