A coupling device for recovering an unmanned ship includes: a coupling unit, which is lifted and lowered by being connected to a crane provided in a mother ship; an accommodation unit provided in the unmanned ship, and having a vertically communicating coupling hole; a guide unit performing guiding such that the coupling unit is coupled to the accommodation unit, and including a towing line formed to be long, and a winch connected to the other side of the towing line so as to selectively wind or unwind the towing line; and a control unit including a sensing part for sensing the tension applied to the towing line by the driving of the winch, and a control part for lowering the coupling unit connected to the crane, if the intensity of the tension sensed by the sensing part is a preset value or higher.

An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

A sensor suspension system for use in an underwater environment comprises a sensor (e.g., vector sensor) and a framework comprising a plurality of support structures, and a plurality of compliant devices that suspend the sensor within an inner volume of the framework. The plurality of compliant devices facilitate a symmetrical sensing response of the sensor in three degrees of freedom when deployed in the underwater environment. The framework is moveable from a collapsed position to an expanded position. A plurality of sensor suspension systems can be tethered together into a sensor array by a deployment control system operable to release a buoyant device, tethered to the sensor suspension systems, that vertically positions the plurality of sensor suspension systems into the sensor array. The buoyant device can cause each framework to expand via pulling force through the tethers upon release of the buoyant device.

An underwater positioning system comprises a plurality of underwater beacons. A beacon, in response to a signal sent by an underwater vehicle, responds with a signal comprising one or more characteristics to identify the beacon. Components of an access algorithm are provided to the underwater vehicle. The access algorithm determines a location of the beacon based on the beacon's identity. A position of the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the location of the beacon.

An underwater positioning system comprises a plurality of underwater beacons. A beacon, in response to a signal sent by an underwater vehicle, responds with a signal comprising one or more characteristics to identify the beacon. Components of an access algorithm are provided to the underwater vehicle. The access algorithm determines a location of the beacon based on the beacon's identity. A position of the vehicle is determined based at least in part on the location of the beacon.

An underwater camera system includes a camera assembly configured to scan a seabed while submerged under water and moving in a direction of travel. A buoyant support is coupled to the camera assembly and configured to position the camera assembly under water during the moving in the direction of travel. A stabilization assembly is coupled to the camera assembly and configured for adjusting an orientation of the camera assembly relative to the direction of travel.

A subsea assistance system for supporting saturation diver operations includes an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) such as an observation remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) that can be flown to a subsea worksite, and various items of ancillary electrical equipment that are connected or subsea-connectable to the UUV or to a skid forming part of the UUV. Those items can include any of: a hand-portable subsea display that displays an image to a diver communicated from the UUV, which image can be generated or enhanced underwater and/or by surface support; a subsea camera that captures subsea image data for communication to the UUV and from the UUV to surface support; and a selection of electrical power tools for performing subsea tasks. Fast-acting protective devices protect divers when using high-voltage wet-mateable subsea connectors on the UUV.

An underwater work system of the present disclosure acquires a relative position of an underwater vehicle relative to a surface ship at the start of searching work, the relative position being measured based on a sound wave transmitted from a wave transmitter. The underwater work system calculates a position of the underwater vehicle based on the acquired relative position. When a measurement error region whose center corresponds to the calculated position of the underwater vehicle and an expected laid region of a pipeline extending in a predetermined direction overlap each other, the underwater work system moves the underwater vehicle to such a position that the measurement error region and the expected laid region do not overlap each other, and then, makes the underwater vehicle perform crossing detection in which the underwater vehicle detects the presence or absence of the pipeline while crossing the expected laid region.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system and method for performing an inspection of an underwater environment. Embodiments may include providing an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and performing an inspection of an underwater environment using the AUV. Embodiments may further include acquiring real-time sensor data during the inspection of the underwater environment and applying an active simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithm during the inspection, wherein applying includes estimating one or more virtual landmarks based upon, at least in part, at least one past measurement and a current estimate of AUV activity.