Rafting labor: a drone boat will help to extract useful resources and find mines in reservoirs

Russian specialists have developed a crewless surface boat to accompany underwater operations. It can perform the functions of a base station and repeater, receiving data from the control center and transmitting signals to the underwater vehicle. The feature of its component base is its modular architecture, which makes it possible to flexibly refine and modernize the complex, adapting it to various tasks. Such systems can be useful for conducting scientific research of reservoirs, mining in flooded mines, mine clearance of water areas and other purposes, experts noted.

How does a crewless boat work?

A group of specialists and students from the Bauman Moscow State Technical University has created a crewless surface boat designed to escort underwater robotic systems. It is capable of operating in difficult conditions such as flooded mine workings and other hard-to-reach places.

As the developers explained, the device can be used as a base station and repeater, receiving data from the control center and transmitting signals to the underwater vehicle via a sonar channel or fiber-optic cable. In addition, the boat can function as an independent research complex for studying the surface of water areas, hydraulic structures, as well as building depth maps.

— Our development is mainly a constructive platform. It is the surface part of a robotic complex, the second component of which is immersed in the aquatic environment. Depending on the tasks assigned, the equipment can be adapted to perform research, exploration, engineering and other tasks. Users can choose different modes, including remote control of the complex or automatic boat tracking of an autonomous underwater device," Danil Shakuev, one of the developers, a design engineer at the Gidronavtika Educational and Scientific Youth Center at Bauman Moscow State Technical University, told Izvestia.

He explained that the device is made in the form of a catamaran using composite materials. This made it possible to achieve good stability and reduce the weight of the structure without loss of strength characteristics. Despite the fact that the main tests were carried out in calm waters, the device is designed to withstand small waves, wind and other factors that may affect its operation.

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The device can effectively destroy mines and naval drones of the enemy.

The overall dimensions of the drone are 1050 × 740 × 630 mm, which makes it possible to deliver it to the workplace in the trunk of a passenger car. The maximum speed of the boat reaches 1.3 m / s, and four electric motors provide it with high maneuverability. However, the batteries allow the surface drone to operate continuously for 12 hours. At the same time, it is capable of carrying a payload weighing up to 20 kg.

"The technical stuffing of the device includes modern solutions: a free-form orientation system, a GPS receiver for precise positioning, a Wi-Fi bridge for stable communication, as well as a single—board computer that performs the functions of an on-board controller," the developer said.

According to him, the possible additional equipment includes a high-precision positioning system, an echo sounder, a sonar navigation system and other tools that will significantly expand the functionality of the surface boat. Currently, the main mode of operation of the device is remote—controlled. In the near future, we plan to provide an autonomous mode of operation of the device.

The feature of the device's component base is the modular architecture of all boards without cross connections, Danil Shakuev specified. This allows you to quickly replace the control electronics, reconfigure them depending on the tasks and adapt them to different requirements.

What tasks can a surface vehicle perform?

— Specialists have developed the surface part of the system, the general appearance of which has not yet been fully determined. In fact, it is an analogue of aircraft drones, but for the aquatic environment, with the possibility of integrating underwater modules. Such systems are usually controlled remotely — the operator can even be on shore and monitor the process via the Internet," Dmitry Kuzyakin, General Director of the Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions, explained to Izvestia.

One of the application scenarios is the regular updating of depth maps in port areas where currents erode fairways (deepened shipping corridors), he noted. Such works are in demand in Russian ports. Now these tasks are being solved by special ships with crews and sonars. However, automating the process will speed up and make these jobs cheaper.

According to the expert, the development of unmanned devices is currently in the focus of the country's leadership, so they are actively developing. However, in order to speed up this process, it is important to make long-term investments in education and training, and to raise a new generation of engineers.

— The main drawback of the development is that so far it is presented in the form of a prototype. Its implementation, testing, and refinement require time and resources. While such devices, as usual, are needed here and now. For example, they could become a means of supporting a complex of bottom seismic stations developed at the Institute," said Dmitry Ilyinsky, senior researcher at the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Vadim Minin, Advisor to the Rector of Ural State Mining University, noted that surface unmanned boats can help in the development of minerals in flooded mines.

Currently, the scientist emphasized, Russian engineers are creating robotic devices with devices for destroying rocks under water. With appropriate adaptation, the presented development can become part of this complex. Technical and economic calculations have shown that, for example, with the resumption of production at the Mir mine in Yakutia, which was flooded in 2017, revenue could reach 110 billion rubles.

— The new device can also be used for military purposes. In particular, when conducting mine operations, repeater boats will ensure the operation of underwater devices searching for mines. They will be able to examine the bottom and the water column and transmit information to unmanned boats, which will forward it to the lead ship," military expert Dmitry Boltenkov explained to Izvestia.

In the future, unmanned boats will be able to control attacks by underwater drones, he added.