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Contenido archivado el 2022-12-27

REMOTELY CONTROLLED TOWED VEHICLE

Objetivo

Produce a controllable towed vehicle which will house a range of survey and inspection sensors.
The crucial aspect of the manufacture of this vehicle will be the design of production of the movable towing point (actuated lead screws or ball screws under control of a microprocessor system).

PHASE I - FEASIBILITY STUDY
This phase has already been carried out which confirmed the principal that by moving the towing point of the vehicle, uner a dynamic conditions, it would respond by moving both laterally and vertically.
PHASE II - SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
The object of this phase was to produce a specification for conceived operating modes and configuration, and to attempt to anticipate future requirements for sensors and inspection tools.
PHASE III - SYSTEM OUTLINE DESIGN
During this phase, an outline design for the control system and possible actuator configuration was agreed. Block schematics of the system and control flow charts were prepared.
Umbilical cable conductor requirements for the control system and power transmission were established.
PHASE IV - CONTROL SYSTEM DETAIL DESIGN AND PROTOTYPING
The object of this phase was to produce an operational prototype control system.
The initial requirement was to establish duplex data communication along a twisted pair cable at a suitable data rate, to permit transfer of commands and data between the surface and underwater processors.
The towpoint monitor system operates under the control of a microprocessor which commands the motors and monitors rotation sensors to adjust the towpoint position. Data is also passed between the control processor and two peripheral processors which handle other digital and analog functions.
The surface command and display system interprets control stick commands from the operation and encodes these for transmission to the underwater unit. The unit displays these commands together with the actual towpoint position which is telemetered from the underwater unit so that control follow up can be observed.
The surface units also displays vehicle parameters such as pitch, roll, depth etc and can encode commands such as camera pan and tilt and lamp intensity for transmission to the underwater unit.
Development of the control electronics is largely complete, the next stage being the development of power switching electronics for motot actuation.
An initial mechanical design for the towpoint support and actuation system has been completed.
PHASE V - DETAIL DESIGN OF UMBILICAL AND UNDERWATER HOUSINGS
Some initial design work has been completed on the underwater housings for the control electronics and actuating motors.
PHASE VI - SYSTEM INSTALLATION AND SEA TRIALS
Not started.

Convocatoria de propuestas

Data not available

Régimen de financiación

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinador

BROWN & ROOT SURVEY LIMITED
Aportación de la UE
Sin datos
Dirección
WELLHEADS CRESCENT WELLHEADS INDUSTRIAL ESTATE DYCE
AB2 OGA ABERDEEN
Reino Unido

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Coste total
Sin datos