This invention relates to a transport system for moving at least one automated maintenance device for large substantially perpendicular surfaces, for example ship hulls, comprising a monorail system which can be laid freely and at least one drive device which can be moved on the monorail system along a movement direction. The at least one drive device has a drive unit with at least one running wheel, and the running wheel can be driven via at least one drive, preferably an electric drive. At least one pressing unit, is provided which is connected to the drive unit). The at least one pressing unit has at least one loading roller which can be pressed onto the monorail system via at least one spring element, and/or a fixing device is arranged on the drive unit, wherein a fixing roller is provided which interacts with the monorail system.

This invention relates to a transport system for moving at least one automated maintenance device for large substantially perpendicular surfaces, for example ship hulls, comprising a monorail system which can be laid freely and at least one drive device which can be moved on the monorail system along a movement direction. The at least one drive device has a drive unit with at least one running wheel, and the running wheel can be driven via at least one drive, preferably an electric drive. At least one pressing unit, is provided which is connected to the drive unit). The at least one pressing unit has at least one loading roller which can be pressed onto the monorail system via at least one spring element, and/or a fixing device is arranged on the drive unit, wherein a fixing roller is provided which interacts with the monorail system.

A movement device is for progressive movement on the surface of a body around which a fluid passes, such as a hull, a rotor blade, a rudder, a tubular body or the like. The movement device has a retaining system for adhesion of the movement device on the surface, a traction system for providing a course for the movement device on the surface, and a drive system for driving the movement of the movement device on the surface. The drive system has at least one flow element, around which flow can pass, for interaction with the fluid, such that, for the progressive movement of the movement device on the surface of the body around which the fluid passes, flow energy can be extracted from the fluid passing around it and can be used for driving the movement.

Disclosed is a ship cleaning robot, in which a first caterpillar module and a second caterpillar module are symmetrically rotated almost equally in a vertical direction in a rear horizontal body through a stabilizer, and thus the rear horizontal body also resists external force and inhibit separation from the outer wall as the symmetry is broken when one of the first caterpillar module and the second caterpillar module is separated from the outer wall by the external force, thereby having advantages of maintaining close contact with the outer surface of a ship.

Disclosed is a ship cleaning robot, in which a first caterpillar module and a second caterpillar module are symmetrically rotated almost equally in a vertical direction in a rear horizontal body through a stabilizer, and thus the rear horizontal body also resists external force and inhibit separation from the outer wall as the symmetry is broken when one of the first caterpillar module and the second caterpillar module is separated from the outer wall by the external force, thereby having advantages of maintaining close contact with the outer surface of a ship.

The invention relates to an apparatus and related method for cleaning vessel hulls and other subsea structures at sea. In an embodiment, a hull cleaning system comprises a housing defining an interior void; a multifunction bar; a propulsion system; a power system; a positioning system; a water pump operatively connected to the power system; a high flow manifold operatively in fluid communication with the water pump; a hull cleaner; and a suction device configured to selectively adhere the hull cleaning system to a hull. In a further embodiment, a remotely operated work class vehicle, which is typically able to be deployed from any platform outfitted to accept its launch, recovery and support equipment and which may further be innately unstable when not adhered to an underwater structure such as when flying through open water, comprises a frame; an inspection sensor; a hydraulically powered, high pressure water jet pump; a predetermined tooling set connected to the housing; and a propulsion system, which includes a suction device, configured to propel the remotely operated work class vehicle about a surface.

The invention relates to an apparatus and related method for cleaning vessel hulls and other subsea structures at sea. In an embodiment, a hull cleaning system comprises a housing defining an interior void; a multifunction bar; a propulsion system; a power system; a positioning system; a water pump operatively connected to the power system; a high flow manifold operatively in fluid communication with the water pump; a hull cleaner; and a suction device configured to selectively adhere the hull cleaning system to a hull. In a further embodiment, a remotely operated work class vehicle, which is typically able to be deployed from any platform outfitted to accept its launch, recovery and support equipment and which may further be innately unstable when not adhered to an underwater structure such as when flying through open water, comprises a frame; an inspection sensor; a hydraulically powered, high pressure water jet pump; a predetermined tooling set connected to the housing; and a propulsion system, which includes a suction device, configured to propel the remotely operated work class vehicle about a surface.

A computer implemented method of monitoring the cleanliness of an underwater surface of a stationary object. The method is performed on a computing device and comprises: retrieving environmental data from memory of the computing device, the environmental data associated with environment conditions of the stationary object; determining a fouling value indicative of a level of fouling that the surface is exposed to based on at least the environmental data; determining a fouling protection value defining a tolerance to fouling associated with a surface of the stationary object; and identifying a level of risk of fouling on the surface of the stationary object by determining a fouling risk value using the fouling protection value and the fouling value.

A method of controlling a robot configured to clean a hull of a vessel whilst travelling over said hull, the method comprising: receiving at least one signal indicative of a speed of the vessel; during cleaning being performed by the robot, detecting that cleaning being performed by the robot is to be paused based on (i) determining, from said at least one signal, that the speed of the vessel exceeds a predetermined speed threshold, or (ii) predicting, using said at least one signal, that the speed of the vessel will exceed the predetermined speed threshold within a predetermined time period; in response to said detecting that cleaning being performed by the robot is to be paused, outputting a pause cleaning signal indicating that said cleaning is to be paused; whilst said cleaning is paused, detecting that cleaning performed by the robot is to be restarted based on the determining that the speed of the vessel has dropped below the predetermined threshold, and in response, outputting a restart cleaning signal indicating that cleaning by the robot is to be restarted.

A method of controlling a robot configured to clean a hull of a vessel whilst travelling over said hull, the method comprising: receiving at least one signal indicative of a speed of the vessel; during cleaning being performed by the robot, detecting that cleaning being performed by the robot is to be paused based on (i) determining, from said at least one signal, that the speed of the vessel exceeds a predetermined speed threshold, or (ii) predicting, using said at least one signal, that the speed of the vessel will exceed the predetermined speed threshold within a predetermined time period; in response to said detecting that cleaning being performed by the robot is to be paused, outputting a pause cleaning signal indicating that said cleaning is to be paused; whilst said cleaning is paused, detecting that cleaning performed by the robot is to be restarted based on the determining that the speed of the vessel has dropped below the predetermined threshold, and in response, outputting a restart cleaning signal indicating that cleaning by the robot is to be restarted.