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Remote control or autonomy? The two major categories of unmanned underwater vehicles are revealed!
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) are one of the most cutting-edge technologies in current underwater exploration and research. Since their first introduction in the 1950s, these submersibles have not only contributed to scientific research but have also played an increasingly important role in the military and commercial sectors. According to different modes of operation, unmanned underwater vehicles can be divided into two major categories: remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROUVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Each of these two types of vehicles has its own characteristics and applications. Which type of technology to choose depends on the needs of the mission and the challenges of the environment.
Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle (ROUV)
Remotely operated underwater vehicles are operated by human operators via remote control and are usually used to complete tasks that are difficult for humans to perform underwater. Equipped with cameras, sensors and grippers, these underwater vehicles can perform a variety of tasks including surveillance and patrolling.
ROUV is a specially designed underwater vehicle that can perform various important tasks and replace humans in extreme underwater environments.
For example, the U.S. Navy's "Submarine Rescue Diving Pressure System" (SRDRS) is a clear example. The main function of this system is to rescue underwater survivors and must be controlled by the operator during operation. In addition, ROUV usually needs to take into account the operator's immediate reaction ability when performing certain high-risk tasks, which limits its autonomy.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
Unlike ROUVs, autonomous underwater vehicles can operate autonomously and independently without the need for direct human intervention. The design range of this type of vehicle ranges from a few kilograms to thousands of kilograms, has a high degree of autonomy, and can conduct underwater exploration for a long time. Historically, the first autonomous underwater vehicle was developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory of the University of Washington in 1957. This innovation ushered in a new era of underwater exploration.
AUV is able to operate without the need for human intervention, and its autonomous algorithms have been developed to complete complex tasks.
Early AUV models utilized propellers, while more recent models feature automatic buoyancy control technology, meaning they can dive deeper and longer. For example, the most recent Deepglider model can dive to a depth of 6,000 meters and has a range of up to 8,500 kilometers. The potential of such underwater vehicles makes them increasingly attractive for environmental monitoring, scientific research, and military applications.
Development History
From the 1950s to the present, the technology of unmanned underwater vehicles has continued to evolve. The successful development of the early autonomous underwater vehicle SPURV marked the leader in UUV; subsequent advancements, such as the emergence of ROUV and AUV, allowed this technology to be expanded to various applications.
By the 2000s, UUV technology gradually became commercialized and transformed into industrial applications, far beyond its original research scope.
Current applications and future prospects
Unmanned underwater vehicles have a wide range of applications: not only in the military, they are used to explore and dismantle underwater mines, but they also play an important role in deep-sea exploration and ocean research. The U.S. Navy used UUVs to clear underwater mines during the Iraq War, demonstrating its increasingly important role in maintaining national security.
In terms of scientific research, with the advancement of science and technology, more and more UUVs are involved in tasks such as deep-sea sampling and seabed topography mapping. With the strengthening of legislation and international industry regulations, the prospects of UUV in ecological protection, marine monitoring and other fields cannot be underestimated.
Conclusion
In today’s world of rapid technological advancement, what breakthroughs and applications will there be in the development of unmanned underwater vehicles in the future?
