(1) Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV): ROV is a remotely controlled underwater vehicle that is usually used to perform underwater tasks that require direct entry by humans. ROV can be equipped with various instruments and sensors to perform different tasks, such as seabed surveys, pipeline inspection, underwater construction projects, etc.

Figure 1. Remotely operated vehicle (Deep Trekker DTG3)

(2) High-precision underwater positioning: High-precision underwater positioning is a key technology to determine the position and direction of ROV. It can use different methods, including acoustic positioning, GPS, inertial navigation, and other sensing technologies. Positioning based on short baseline (SBL) acoustic system is one of the common methods.

(3) U1 locator: The U1 locator is one of the high-precision underwater positioning equipment used by IMRC. It uses acoustic signals to perform position measurements, often in combination with other components such as antennas, receivers, baselines, and G2 topside.

Figure 2. U1 locator

Figure 3. Antenna loading baseline with D1 receiver

Figure 4. G2 topside

Figure 5. Inside shot of G2 topside

Figure 6. Device architecture diagram

(4) Equipment and sensors: ROVs are usually equipped with a variety of sensors, such as depth sensors, compasses, lights, etc. These sensors are used to determine the position, posture, and surrounding environmental conditions of the ROV. In addition, ROV can also be equipped with lenses to provide visual information.

(5) Real-time kinematic technology (RTK) base station: RTK is a global positioning system used to provide high-precision location information. Underwater ROV can use RTK technology to improve their positioning accuracy. The RTK base station usually communicates with the mobile station (here is the ROV) to ensure positioning accuracy.

(6) Application programming interface (API): This system has an API that allows data exchange and communication between different devices and software. The API can be used to transmit RTK or other position data to underwater ROV to achieve more accurate underwater positioning and measurement.

The development and application of underwater ROV continue to grow, allowing them to play a key role in the fields of marine scientific research, marine engineering, and underwater rescue. The continuous improvement and integration of high-precision underwater positioning technology also helps to improve the performance and application range of ROV.

Figure 7. A ROV equipped with a positioner

Figure 8. Schematic diagram of movement after diving

Figure 9. Underwater images and positioning test photos

Group

Shipping Technology Group

Committed to the development of marine smart ports and transportation technology, as well as 3D modeling research on unmanned systems in fishing ports and reservoirs, using automatic ship identification systems and underwater sonar scanning technology to achieve sea area use management. Research on global ship dynamic tracking and monitoring and investigation of underwater terrain changes.

Fishery Technology Group

In response to the trends and norms of the world's scientific and technological trends, with the vision of using smart technology in marine fisheries, combined with our school’s excellent teaching and research resources and technologies, aiming at coastal fisheries, pelagic fisheries, fishery meteorology, and fishery management to conduct research in other aspects, and hope to achieve the goal of sustainable use of resources.

Satellite Technology Group

Focus on the research of cubic satellites, digital communication systems and space telemetry, and develop and design sea area monitoring systems that use cubic satellites to carry optical lenses and automatic ship identification systems to create a global new world synchronized with the world The generation of maritime satellite communication system can effectively monitor the dynamics of ships throughout Taiwan and the world, and improve the safety analysis of maritime navigation and the identification rate of ships in distress at sea.

Green Energy Technology Group

To study the development of hydrogen fuel as a green energy and energy storage system to replace the electricity generated by the current use of fossil fuels by ordinary and unmanned vehicles, which can reduce air pollution emissions and carbon dioxide's environmental impact The impact of this, combined with Taiwan’s coastal wind energy units, has created a green energy environment in my country, which promotes the source of electricity to meet higher economic benefits and achieve the vision of sustainable operation.

Intelligent Technology Group

It is dedicated to the research of smart transportation systems in the ocean, harbor and coastal areas, and uses artificial intelligence, unmanned vehicles, block chain and other Intelligent technologies to make adjustments through training and new data. At the same time, it uses Big Data to analyze and forecast, and carry out effective sea area management or emergency accident prevention.

Internet of Things Technology Group

Based on the technology framework of Cyber-physical System (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT) Technology Group integrates multiple IoT sensing technologies such as RFID, WSN, 5/6G, edge computing, cloud big data exploration, blockchain, multi-dimensional geographic information platform, and decentralization AI to bridge the physical and virtual world to realize the "digital twin" design standard, and use the "digital twin" to facilitate the development of various system engineering standards related to remote monitoring, telemetry, and preventive maintenance. Adopting the aforementioned advanced technologies, the IoT Technology Group further studies and develops various AIoT systems regarding smart ports, smart shipping, intelligent unmanned vehicles, smart transportation and logistics, and green supply chain related applications.

About

Introduction to Unmanned Underwater Vehicles and High-precision Underwater Positioning