Improving underwater infrastructure inspections using the Boxfish ROV
Abstract
Underwater infrastructure such as power/communication cables on sea floor, artificial structures, and infrastructure for renewable energy needs to be inspected for maintenance, monitoring and security. The cost of detailed inspections using divers, large vessels, and existing ROV technology is prohibitive for routine use. Practical challenges exist with current methods forexample divers and existing ROV solutions have difficulty in turbid water making inspection virtually impossible and obtaining coverage maps is not at all feasible; poor video quality and narrow view angles available in current solutions are not adequate for meaningful or inaccurate results; GPS does not work underwater and compass systems do not work well when used nearsteel structures. There is a need to find an alternative solution that ONR can routinely use for accurate and practical inspection of underwater infrastructure.A small, inexpensive, agile and maneuverable ROV that is currently capable of capturing a 4K video data stream underwater, under remote control of an operator has been developed in New Zealand by Boxfish Research (BFR). The ROV is battery powered with a fiber optic data tether. BFR ROV is a unique solution due to its true 6 degrees of freedom providing unrivalled maneuverability and dynamic stabilization. Its large camera payload provides uncompressed 10-bit ultra-high definition video and combined with superb ultra-wide angle optics allows for the best possible imaging even in the poorest visibility. The digital control system allows for millimeter positioning and ROV provides easy integration of a wide-array of sensors and sonar equipment.The overall aim of this research project is to evaluate the performance of the BFR ROV as a platform technology for ONR that can be used for inspection of underwater infrastructure and to develop potential strategies for underwater 3D mapping of structure and landscape. To deliver on the overall aim, the four project objectives will (1) characterize the BFR ROV capability, (2) investigate technologies to improve ROV station holding and positioning accuracy (3) demonstrate the ability to improve existing sonar imaging by using the BFR ROV pitch capability to enhance situational awareness, and (4) use a 3D camera in the ROV to build 3D representations of underwater infrastructure.This project will provide comprehensive characterization of the BFR ROV that demonstrates the performance of the ROV as a platform technology, and builds a simple 3D representation of underwater infrastructure from images alone. Ultimately, beyond this project, it is feasible that further development of the 3D representation of underwater infrastructure may allow for later identification of faults and anomalies and to understand their position and relevance within theunderwater structure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 17, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812883
Entities
People
- Bruce MacDonald
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Auckland