• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.19 no.9
• /
• pp.813-821
• /
• 2013

In this paper, we present the development of P-SURO II hybrid AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) which can be operated in both of AUV and ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) modes. In its AUV mode, the vehicle is supposed to carry out some of underwater missions which are difficult to be achieved in ROV mode due to the tether cable. To accomplish its missions such as inspection and maintenance of complex underwater structures in AUV mode, the vehicle is required to have high level of autonomy including environmental recognition, obstacle avoidance, autonomous navigation, and so on. In addition to its systematic development issues, some of algorithmic issues are also discussed in this paper. Various experimental studies are also presented to demonstrate these developed autonomy algorithms.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.58-68
• /
• 2009

The increased use of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) has led to the development of alternative navigational methods that do not employ acoustic beacons and dead reckoning sensors. This paper describes a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) scheme that uses range sonars mounted on a small UUV. A SLAM scheme is an alternative navigation method for measuring the environment through which the vehicle is passing and providing the relative position of the UUV. A technique for a SLAM algorithm that uses several ranging sonars is presented. This technique utilizes an unscented Kalman filter to estimate the locations of the UUV and surrounding objects. In order to work efficiently, the nearest neighbor standard filter is introduced as the data association algorithm in the SLAM for associating the stored targets returned by the sonar at each time step. The proposed SLAM algorithm was tested by experiments under various three degrees of freedom motion conditions. The results of these experiments showed that the proposed SLAM algorithm was capable of estimating the position of the UUV and the surrounding objects and demonstrated that the algorithm will perform well in various environments.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.343-347
• /
• 2020

This paper presents the development of a software for tracking the location of objects in the water and for creating a three-dimensional hull map. The objective of this software, as a software for underwater hull cleaning robot, is to map the location of underwater hull cleaning robot and to locate the position of sensor by identifying the shaded area of acoustic communication. For the software designed for mapping the location of cleaning robot in the water, the height and intensity were applied as variables for underwater ultrasonic communication. The software for creating a three-dimensional hull was developed by OpenGL using scanned lines from a blueprint of a ship. This software can help identifying the location of underwater hull cleaning robot without actual visibility and can be used to maintain a stable communication status by locating the position of sensor by easily spotting the shaded area of acoustic communication caused by the curved area of the bottom of the ship.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.26 no.4_2
• /
• pp.697-703
• /
• 2023

Intertidal zones, akin to tidal flats, are among the potential areas where underwater cultural heritage might be submerged. However, the shallow depths in these regions present challenges for conventional vessel-based survey methods. Moreover, during low tides, intertidal zones transform into tidal flats, limiting the efficiency of survey efforts due to restricted access and potential risks. As a result, proper underwater cultural heritage surveys encounter difficulties in these environments. In recent times, extensive research is underway to address these issues by investigating underwater cultural heritage surveys in intertidal zones, encompassing diverse fields, including equipment-based investigations. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to conduct intertidal cultural heritage surveys, employing aerial photography and 3D mapping to create detailed orthoimages and 3D models. The study focused on assessing the potential application of these techniques for cultural heritage surveying within intertidal zones. Notably, the survey conducted in Jindo's Naesan-ri demonstrated high-resolution capabilities, enabling the distinction of actual pottery fragments mixed within gravel fields. Similarly, in the survey of Jindo's Byeokpa-hang, it was found that a wooden pillar structure existed in a section about 200m long. The integration of various sensors, including LiDAR, with UAVs allows for diverse investigation possibilities, including bathymetric measurements, and is expected to facilitate the acquisition of varied datasets for further research and assessment.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.225-234
• /
• 2018

A Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) is commonly used for rapid seafloor mapping. We herein present a time-domain integrated system simulation technique for MBES development. The Modeling and Simulation (M&S) modules consist of four parts: sensor array signal transmission, propagation and backscattering modeling in the ocean environment, beamforming of the received signals, and image processing. Also, the simulation employs a ray-theory-based algorithm to correct the reconstructed bathymetry, which has errors due to the refraction caused by the vertical sound velocity profile. The developed M&S technique enables design parameter verification and system parameter optimization for MBES. The framework of this technique can also be potentially used to characterize the seabed properties. Finally, typical seafloor images are presented and discussed.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.454-461
• /
• 2019

In autonomous interventions using an underwater vehicle with a manipulator, grasping based on target detection and recognition is one of the core technologies. To complete an autonomous grasping task, the vehicle body approaches the target closely and then holds it through operating the end-effector of the manipulator, while the vehicle maintains its position and attitude without unstable motion. For vehicle motion control, it is very important to identify the hydrodynamic parameters of the underwater vehicle, including the propulsion force. This study examined the propulsion characteristics of the autonomous intervention ROV developed by KRISO, because there is a difference between the real exerted force and the expected force. First, the mapping between the input signal and thrusting force for each underwater thruster was obtained through a water tank experiment. Next, the real propulsion forces and moments of the ROV exerted by thrusting forces were directly measured using an F/T (force/torque) sensor attached to the ROV. Finally, the differences between the measured and expected values were confirmed.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.32 no.2
• /
• pp.110-117
• /
• 2023

Reconstructing underwater geometry in real time with forward-looking sonar is critical for applications such as localization, mapping, and path planning. Geometrical data must be repeatedly calculated and overwritten in real time because the reliability of the acoustic data is affected by various factors. Moreover, scattering of signal data during the coordinate conversion process may lead to geometrical errors, which lowers the accuracy of the information obtained by the sensor system. In this study, we propose a three-step data processing method with low computational cost for real-time operation. First, the number of data points to be interpolated is determined with respect to the distance between each point and the size of the data grid in a Cartesian coordinate system. Then, the data are processed with a nonlinear interpolation so that they exhibit linear properties in the coordinate system. Finally, the data are transformed based on variations in the position and orientation of the sonar over time. The results of an evaluation of our proposed approach in a simulation show that the nonlinear interpolation operation constructed a continuous underwater geometry dataset with low geometrical error.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.49 no.5
• /
• pp.381-388
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study is to integrate and visualize using mapping techniques based on precise seabed geomorphology, seafloor backscattering images and high-resolution underwater images of the nearshore area around the Dokdo, in the East Sea. We have been obtained the precise topography map using multibeam echosounder system around the nearshore area(~50 m) of the southern part of the Seodo. Side scan sonar survey for analysis seafloor backscattering images was carried out in the same area of topography data. High-resolution underwater images(zone(a), zone(b), zone(c)) were taken in significant habitat scope of the nearshore area of the southern part of the Seodo. Using the results of bathymetry, seafloor backscattering images, high-resolution underwater images, we performed an integrated visualization about the nearshore area of the Dokdo. The integrated visualizing techniques are possible to make the seabed characteristic mapping results of the nearshore area of the Dokdo. The integrated visualization results present more complex and reliable information than separate geological products for seabed environmental mapping study and it is useful to understand the relation between seafloor characteristics and topographic environments of the study area. The integrated visualizing techniques and mapping analysis need to study sustainably and periodically, for effective monitoring of the nearshore ecosystem of the Dokdo.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.24 no.5
• /
• pp.467-476
• /
• 2003

For the seafloor acoustic image mapping of side scan sonar, the beginning step of the procedure is to fix the absolute sonar (tow-fish) position since the sonar is not hull mounted but towed astern. The technical algorithm used to calculate the actual sonar position without any other additional sub-system, i.e., the underwater acoustic position tracking system or the sonar attitude measuring device, was proposed. In the seafloor image mosaic mapping results using the sonar track (not ship track) developed in this study, any ambiguity or inconsistency of seafloor features was not found. The incidental effect from the sonar position determination procedure orients the towing direction of sonar to be smooth, consequently the swath pattern on the across-track direction becomes stable and the blanking phenomenon of the insonification area is reduced conspicuously. This technical method is considered to be an useful tool when applied toother underwater towing vehicle surveys.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.729-742
• /
• 2020

In this study, we analyze seabottom conditions and characteristics integrated with topographic data, seafloor mosaic, underwater images and orthophoto(drone) of soft-hard bottom area around the Sib-Ri rock in the northern shore of the East Sea(Gyeongpo Beach, Gangneung). We obtained field survey data around the Sib-Ri rock(about 600 m × 600 m). The Sib-Ri rock is formed by two exposed rocks and surrounding reef. The artificial reef zone made by about 200 ~ 300 structures is shown the western area of the Sib-Ri rock. The underwater rock region is extended from the southwestern area of the exposed the Sib-Ri rock with 9 ~ 11 m depth range. The most broad rocky seabottom area is located in the southwestren area of the Sib-Ri rock with 10 ~ 13 m depth range. The study area were classified into 4 types of seabottom environment based on the analysis of bathymetric data, seafloor mosaics, composition of sediments and images(underwater and drone). The underwater rock zones(Type I) are the most distributed area around the Sib-Ri Rock(about 600 m × 600 m). The soft seabottom area made by sediments layer showed 2 types(Type II: gS(gravelly Sand), Type III: S(Sand)) in the areas between underwater rock zones and western part of the Sib-Ri rock(toward Gyeongpo Beach). The artificial reef zone with a lot of structures is located in the western part of the Sib-Ri rock. Marine algae(about 6 species), Phylum porifera(about 2 species), Phylum echinodermata(about 3 species), Phylum mollusca(about 3 species) and Phylum chordata(about 2 species) are dominant faunal group of underwater image analysis area(about 10 m × 10 m) in the northwestern part of the Sib-Ri rock. The habitat of Phylym mollusca(Lottia dorsuosa, Septifer virgatus) and Phylum arthropoda(Pollicipes mitella, Chthamalus challengeri hoek) appears in the intertidal zone of the Sib-Ri rock. And it is possible to estimate the range and distribution of the habitat based on the integrated study of orthphoto(drone) and bathymetry data. The integrated visualization and mapping techniques using seafloor mosaic images, sediments analysis, underwater images, orthophoto(drone) and topographic data can provide and contribute to figure out the seabottom conditions and characteristics in the shore of the East Sea.