• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.78-84
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• 2009

This paper presents development results of integrated operating program and its simulator for an inshore test miner. The inshore test miner drives on the seabed and collects manganese nodules. For operating the test miner, integrated operating program (IOP) is needed for remote control and monitor of the miner in real-time. However, it is hard to develop the practical IOP for the test miner system, because the system is big, expensive, and unique. So a simulator was developed as a test substitute in order to save time and to reduce cost. Using test results of the simulator, the IOP of the test miner was developed. The developed IOP consists of remote program, host program, monitoring program and database program. The operating program was developed using PXI and Labview of NI. The experimental results are presented to show the applicability of the developed program.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.463-473
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• 2010

Inshore tests were performed in order to verify the design concept of deep sea manganese nodule miner at a site near Hupo at East Sea of Korea in June of 2009. Total mining tests of the test miner, named 'Minero$^{(R)}$', together with flexible hose, lifting pump and lifting hose were accomplished. In this study, the performances of three subsystems of testminer (vehicle, pick-up device, and launch-and-recovery device) were analyzed for feasibility assessment of self-propelled remotely controlled miner, and also to compile basic data for designing a pilotminer. Performances of the test miner were defined based on the Functional Requirements of Axiomatic Design. The inshore tests revealed that the test miner generally satisfies the functional performances. Feasibility assessment and reflection on results are discussed within.