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Applications |
Dam Inspections and Maintenance
The SonicWorks' APNS for ROVs will provide both position and attitude information at high transmission rates, resulting in the precision closed-loop control the industry has needed. Current robots can be retrofitted with a SonicWorks' APNS to extend their capability. The dam inspection can be controlled from a land site (trailer) using multiple ROVs to inspect the dam face and structure. The APNS sonic net is deployed along the dam face and extended or relocated to map the entire structure. Detailed inspection of inlets and trash racks are facilitated by strategically located net elements. The inspection process may include visual and sonic mapping of the surface, detail fissures and deterioration. Periodic inspections are collected to track the condition of the dam and plan corrective action. Later, a similar equipment configuration can be used to support the maintenance process. More importantly, the next generation ROVs that incorporate SonicWorks' APNS can be built for computer and computer-assisted control, connecting the virtual world with the real world. It can take robots "where no man has gone before."
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Underwater Pier, Dock and Ship Hull Inspection
Divers are used for the limited in-water inspections that are done. This is extremely hazardous work and performed in a few third world harbors. Visibility during these operations is zero, posing an unacceptable human risk. International worker standards will soon prohibit this method or require safety standards that will make it too costly. A barge or rib boat can be used as a base of operations with the APNS Motion Compensation package attached to predefined locations on the ship hull. Typically these are derived from hull drawings, but can be generated as part of the initial inspection process. Data collected from a detailed hull inspection can produce an as-built drawing of the hull used for future inspection and analysis. To reduce exposure to hazard, the APNS system supports deployment of all equipment by ROV. Automated anomaly detection for IED and contraband is available for subsequent inspection of piers, docks and hulls.
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Underwater Construction Monitoring, Inspection & Precision Measurement of Equipment Location/Placement
Underwater construction of structures such as oil pipelines or platforms could benefit from the APNS precision control and virtual 3D display of tracking data. The project could integrate the APNS with the vehicle TMS and tether system. The transceivers, cable reels, T/R stands, and the fiber optic multiplex bottle for the APS could be installed piggyback on the TMS. The ROV could then place the T/R's as necessary around the work site to form the Acoustic Positioning Net. The ROV could use a pinger system for vehicle piloting and a measurement transceiver to provide the data for object measurements. Two pingers could be used with special clamps to fit on the ends of objects, such as pipes, for interactive placement. During these operations, the vehicle would be continually tracked for effective control.
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Underwater Archaeology, Environmental Survey,
Mapping of subsea archaeological sites such as a ship wreck is critical in determining what has actually been found, and to allow the investigators to return repeatedly to the same location. The process for creating subsea maps is currently cumbersome, time consuming and inaccurate. New technology, developed by SonicWorks, Inc., enables an underwater archaeological team to quickly and accurately map any sized area of the sea floor, tag and record the position of particular areas of interest and produce a three dimensional visualization of the site. SonicWorks' APNS enables the underwater archaeological team to quickly and accurately map any sized area of the sea floor.
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