• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.69-76
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• 2011

A test miner named MineRo was constructed for the purpose of shallow water test of mining performance. In June of 2009, the performance test was conducted in depth of 100 m, 5 km away from Hupo-port (Korean East Sea), to assess if the developed system is able to collect and lift manganese nodules from seafloor. In August of 2010, in-situ test of automatic path tracking control of MineRo was performed in depth of 120 m at the same site. For path tracking control, a localization algorithm determining MineRo's position on seabed is prerequisite. This study proposes an improved underwater navigation algorithm through estimation of MineRo's kinematic parameters. In general, the kinematic parameters such as track slips and slip angle are indirectly calculated using the position data from USBL (Ultra-Short Base Line) system and heading data from gyro sensors. However, the obtained data values are likely to be different from the real values, primarily due to the random noise of position data. The aim of this study is to enhance the reliability of the algorithm by measuring kinematic parameters, track slips and slip angle.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SC
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.33-42
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• 2010

This research propose a practical guidance system considering ocean currents in real sea operation. Optimality of generated path is not an issue in this paper. Way-points from start point to possible goal positions are selected by experienced human supervisors considering major ocean current axis. This paper also describes the implementation of a precise underwater navigation solution using multi-sensor fusion technique based on USBL, GPS, DVL and AHRS measurements in detail. To implement the precise, accurate and frequent underwater navigation solution, three strategies are chosen. The first one is the heading alignment angle identification to enhance the performance of standalone dead-reckoning algorithm. The second one is that absolute position is fused timely to prevent accumulation of integration error, where the absolute position can be selected between USBL and GPS considering sensor status. The third one is introduction of effective outlier rejection algorithm. The performance of the developed algorithm is verified with experimental data of mine disposal vehicle and deep-sea ROV.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.110-117
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• 2005

Underwater wet arc welds were experimentally performed on 11mm thick KR-RA steel plate using six different types of flux coated electrodes of 4.0mm diameter, KSKR, KSKT, USBL, JPUW, UWEA and UWEB. From analysis of bead appearance, detachability of weld slag, spatter occurrence and arc stability, JPUW gives the best result, and UWEB is superior to KSKR and KSKT. By experimental result of hardness distribution on the weld bonds, UWEB weld has the narrowest bond structure which is probable condition to get the best mechanical properties of weld. UWEB and JPUW welds have more even hardness distribution across weld deposit and base metal. Upon polarization test to measure the respondency of corrosion, the electrode of UWEB shows the most excellent degree due to the low open circuit potential difference.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.107-114
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• 2007

Underwater wet arc welds were experimentally performed on 11mm thick SS400 mild steel plate as base metal by using six different types of flux coated electrodes of 4.0mm diameter; KSKR, KSKT, USBL, JPUW, UWEA, and UWEB. As results, the developed flux coated underwater electrode had a good weldability compared with other domestic terrestrial electrodes. By rapid cooling rate, the hardness value of HAZ were increased by quenching effects. Mechanical properties for the multi-pass butt-welding specimen are also tested experimentally. The feasibility of the developed underwater electrode was experimentally studied and the results achieved in this wet arc welds have shown that the developed wet welding electrode UWEB can have a degree of integrity.

• Journal of Power System Engineering
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.111-118
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• 2006

Underwater wet arc welds were experimentally performed on 11mm thick KR-RA steel plate using six different types of flux coated electrodes of 4.0mm diameter, KSKR, KSKT, USBL, JPUW, UWEA and UWEB. From analysis of bead appearance, detachability of weld slag, spatter occurrence and arc stability, JPUW gives the best result, and UWEB is superior to KSKR and KSKT. By experimental result of hardness distribution on the weld bonds, UWEB weld has the narrowest bond structure which is probable condition to get the best mechanical properties of weld. UWEB and JPUW welds have more even hardness distribution across weld deposit and base metal. Upon polarization test to measure the respondency of corrosion, the electrode of UWEB shows the most excellent degree due to the low open circuit potential difference.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.300-306
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• 2023

A hull-cleaning robot sticks to the surface of a vessel and moves for efficient cleaning. Precise path planning and tracking using the current position is crucial. Many robots rely on the INS algorithm, but errors accumulate. To fix this, GPS, sonar, and USBL are used, though with limitations. Selecting suitable sensors for the surface operation and accurate positioning algorithm are vital. In this study, we developed a robot position estimation algorithm using the structure of a ship. Problems that arise when expanding the 2D position estimation algorithm used in existing wall structures to 3D were evaluated and methods for solving them were proposed. In addition, we aimed to improve performance by deriving singularities that exist in the robot path and proposing an error correction algorithm based on the singularities.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.702-708
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• 2013

Underwater TRN (Underwater Terrain Referenced Navigation) estimates an underwater vehicle state by measuring a distance between the vehicle and undersea terrain, and comparing it with the known terrain database. TRN belongs to absolute navigation methods, which are used to compensate a drift error of dead reckoning measurements such as IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) or DVL (Doppler Velocity Log). However, underwater TRN is different to other absolute methods such as USBL (Ultra-Short Baseline) and LBL (Long Baseline), because TRN is independent of the external environment. As a magnetic-field-based navigation, TRN is a kind of geophysical navigation. This paper develops an EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) formulation for underwater TRN. A filter propagation part is composed by an inertial navigation system, and a filter update is executed with echo-sounder measurement. For large-initial-error cases, an adaptive EKF approach is also presented, to keep the filter be stable. At the end, simulation studies are given to verify the performance of the proposed TRN filter. With simplified sensor and terrain database models, the simulation results show that the underwater TRN could support conventional underwater navigation methods.

• Ocean Systems Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.391-407
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• 2019

Tracking the location (position) of a surface or underwater marine vehicle is important as part of guidance and navigation. While the Global Positioning System (GPS) works well in an open sea environment but its use is limited whenever testing scaled-down models of such vehicles in the laboratory environment. This paper presents the design, development and implementation of a low energy ultrasonic augmented single beacon-based localization technique suitable for such requirements. The strategy consists of applying Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to achieve location tracking from basic dynamic distance measurements of the moving model from a fixed beacon, while on-board motion sensor measures heading angle and velocity. Iterative application of the Extended Kalman Filter yields x and y co-ordinate positions of the moving model. Tests performed on a free-running ship model in a wave basin facility of dimension 30 m by 30 m by 3 m water depth validate the proposed model. The test results show quick convergence with an error of few centimeters in the estimated position of the ship model. The proposed technique has application in the real field scenario by replacing the ultrasonic sensor with industrial grade long range acoustic modem. As compared with the existing systems such as LBL, SBL, USBL and others localization techniques, the proposed technique can save deployment cost and also cut the cost on number of acoustic modems involved.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.73-80
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• 2003

This paper presents considerations on the results of the rotating arm test, which was carried out for assessment of an hybrid navigation system for a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle. The navigation system consists of an inertial measurement unit(IMU), an ultra-short baseline(USBL) acoustic navigation sensor and a doppler velocity log(DVL) accompanying a magnetic compass. A navigational systemmodel is derived to include the scale effect and bias errors of the DVL, of which the state equation composed of the navigation states and sensor parameters are 25 in the order. The extended Kalman filter was used to propagate the error covariance, The rotating arm tests were carried out in the Ocean Engineering Basin of KRISO, to generate circular motion. The hybrid underwater navigation system shows good tracking performance against the circular planar motion. Additionally this paper checked the effects of the sampling ratio of the navigation system and the possibility of the dead reckoning with the DVL and the magnetic compass to estimate the position of the vehicle.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.83-90
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• 2003

This paper presents an underwater hybrid navigation system for a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle (SAUV). The navigation system consists of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a Doppler velocity log (DVL), accompanied by a magnetic compass. The errors of inertial measurement units increase with time, due to the bias errors of gyros and accelerometers. A navigational system model is derived, to include the scale effect and bias errors of the DVL, of which the state equation composed of the navigation states and sensor parameters is 20. The conventional extended Kalman filter was used to propagate the error covariance, update the measurement errors, and correct the state equation when the measurements are available. Simulation was performed with the 6-d.o,f equations of motion of SAUV, using a lawn-mowing survey mode. The hybrid underwater navigation system shows good tracking performance, by updating the error covariance and correcting the system's states with the measurement errors from a DVL, a magnetic compass, and a depth sensor. The error of the estimated position still slowly drifts in the horizontal plane, about 3.5m for 500 seconds, which could be eliminated with the help of additional USBL information.