A multi-stage seafloor mining system that has at least concentration stage, a reclamation stage, and a haulage stage. The system includes a concentrating system (50) that processes seafloor materials, a reclaimer machine (300) that collects the processed seafloor materials, and a mechanical haulage system (40) that receives the processed seafloor materials collected by the reclaimer machine (300) and conveys discrete parcels of the processed seafloor materials to a surface vessel (100).

The present invention relates to the technical field of long-term in-situ monitoring of sediment disturbance in deep-sea surface mineral mining, and more particularly to a device for monitoring deep-sea sediment environment in mining polymetallic nodules. The monitoring system comprises: acoustic Doppler flow profilers, a spontaneous potential probe, a turbidity meter and an underwater camera. The invention can realize long-term in-situ observation of sediment disturbance, and can realize the mechanical recovery of probe rod-type equipment without large-scale mechanical devices, thereby reducing the overall weight of the recovery equipment and increasing the probability of successful equipment recovery. Compared with the existing long-term in-situ observation equipment on the seabed, it is more environmentally friendly, efficient, energy-saving and reliable.

A method and apparatus for generating a slurry from the surface of the subsea floor, separating that slurry into multiple slurries, and pumping the desired slurry to the surface.

A method and apparatus for generating a slurry from the surface of the subsea floor, separating that slurry into multiple slurries, and pumping the desired slurry to the surface.

A deep-sea mining apparatus for retrieving deep-sea nodules is provided. The deep-sea mining apparatus includes a buoyancy system, a payload hopper, an underwater autonomous vehicle (UAV), and a collector system. The collector system includes a controller system and a perception system communicatively coupled to the controller system and configured to track the deep-sea mining system as the deep-sea mining system hovers over ore nodules laying on a seabed. The collector system further includes one or more robotic arms controlled via the controller system, wherein each of the one or more robotic arms is attached to a bottom surface of the UAV and is equipped with a grasping mechanism configured to pick up the ore nodules from the seabed.

A deep-sea mining apparatus for retrieving deep-sea nodules is provided. The deep-sea mining apparatus includes a buoyancy system, a payload hopper, an underwater autonomous vehicle (UAV), and a collector system. The collector system includes a controller system and a perception system communicatively coupled to the controller system and configured to track the deep-sea mining system as the deep-sea mining system hovers over ore nodules laying on a seabed. The collector system further includes one or more robotic arms controlled via the controller system, wherein each of the one or more robotic arms is attached to a bottom surface of the UAV and is equipped with a grasping mechanism configured to pick up the ore nodules from the seabed.

A submersible vehicle for collecting material from a seafloor includes a chassis. A module may be supported on the chassis, the module including an electric power supply. A drive system may be supported on the chassis, the drive system including a battery, and a propulsion assembly, the battery in electrical communication with the electric power supply and the propulsion assembly, and the propulsion assembly operable to locate the chassis relative to a seafloor. A power tool may be coupled to the chassis, the power tool operable to collect material from the seafloor. A reactor may be supported on the chassis, the reactor defining a reaction chamber. A valve assembly may be actuatable to move a hydrogen-containing gas from the reaction chamber and direct the hydrogen-containing gas to one or more of the electric power supply or the power tool.

A resource collection device of a resource collection system has a resource collection pipe, a protection pipe, and a coiled tubing device. The protection pipe is disposed around the resource collection pipe and protects the resource collection pipe. The coiled tubing device is fed from a winding reel disposed on the sea surface or inside the protection pipe by way of a feeding device and penetrates a side wall of the protection pipe to extend from the interior to the exterior. The resource collection system cracks the sea floor layer by way of: supplying undiluted solutions of foaming material, fuel gas, and air containing oxygen into the sea floor layer through the coiled tubing device; mixing the undiluted solutions of foaming material together to expand in an atmosphere that includes fuel gas and air; and causing the fuel gas accumulated in the hollows of the foaming material to explosively combust.

An equipment and application method for sinkage detection and active escape of deep-sea mining vehicle, comprising: the sinkage detection and warning devices and the self-escape equipment. The sinkage detection and warning devices are installed on the left and right sides of each track of the deep-sea mining vehicle, and it monitors the contact conditions between the tracks and the sediment, and the distance from the bottom of the track to the device is measured. The self-escape equipment comprises the active interactive grouting system, which connects to intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads. The intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads are also located on the left and right sides of each track. This invention can detect the complex driving environment of the seafloor automatically and combine the existing grouting technology and materials to achieve active grouting escape in case of excessive sinkage.

An equipment and application method for sinkage detection and active escape of deep-sea mining vehicle, comprising: the sinkage detection and warning devices and the self-escape equipment. The sinkage detection and warning devices are installed on the left and right sides of each track of the deep-sea mining vehicle, and it monitors the contact conditions between the tracks and the sediment, and the distance from the bottom of the track to the device is measured. The self-escape equipment comprises the active interactive grouting system, which connects to intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads. The intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads are also located on the left and right sides of each track. This invention can detect the complex driving environment of the seafloor automatically and combine the existing grouting technology and materials to achieve active grouting escape in case of excessive sinkage.