Mahdi Choyekh

Development of Spilled Oil and Gas Tracking and Monitoring Autonomous Buoy System and its Application to Marine Disaster Prevention

In this paper, the recent developments in the ongoing project on spilled oil and gas tracking autonomous buoy system and its application to marine disaster prevention system are described. The objectives of the project mainly consist of (1) autonomous tracking and monitoring of spilled plumes of oil and gas from sub-sea production facilities, (2) autonomous tracking of spilled oil on the sea surface and transmission of useful data to a land station through satellites in real time, (3) improvement of the accuracy of real-time simulations as well as prediction of the diffusion and drifting of spilled oil and gas.

Onomatopoeia Learning Support for Japanese Language Learners Using Ubiquitous Learning Log System with eBook

This paper describes our study where we aim to support onomatopoeia learning for Japanese language learners using the ubiquitous learning log system called SCROLL (System for Capturing and Reminding Of Learning Log). We have improved our system by adding a new function EPUB (Electronic PUBlication) in order to improve quiz efficiency and to enrich its contents. Our pilot evaluation indicates that the quiz function worked sufficiently. However, some user-unfriendliness was pointed out.

Depth and Altitude Control of an AUV Using Buoyancy Control Device

A new method for depth control was developed for a spilled oil and blow out gas tracking autonomous buoy robot called SOTAB-I by adjusting its buoyancy control device. It is aimed to work for any target depth. The new method relies on buoyancy variation model with a depth that was established based on experimental data. The depth controller was verified at sea experiments in the Toyama Bay in Japan and showed good performance. The method could further be adapted to altitude control by combining the altitude data measured from bottom tracking through a progressive depth control. The method was verified at the sea experiments in Toyama in March 2016 and showed that the algorithm succeeded to bring the robot to the target altitude.

Implementing Sustainable Mobile Learning Initiatives for Ubiquitous Learning Log System Called SCROLL

The prevalence of high-performance mobile devices has enhanced the potential of mobile learning initiatives. There has been substantial technology-driven research on mobile learning. This ubiquitous learning project using lifelogging technology is among them. Since 2010, work has been undertaken to develop a system called SCROLL (System for Capturing and Reminding of Learning Log). It is still an ongoing project with new functions being added to the system. It has been used in various language learning settings in Japan. The aim of this chapter is to describe past and current research endeavours using SCROLL in various learning environments such as seamless learning and flipped learning. The past studies show that the system is effective for learners with their vocabulary learning; it contributes to linking in-class learning with outside-of-class learning, to boosting outside-of-class learning and to enhancing learners’ learning opportunities.

Development and Operation of Underwater Robot for Autonomous Tracking and Monitoring of Subsea Plumes After Oil Spill and Gas Leak from Seabed and Analyses of Measured Data

Oil spills produced by accidents from oil tankers and blowouts of oil and gas from offshore platforms cause tremendous damage to the environment as well as to marine and human life. To prevent oil and gas that are accidentally released from deep water from spreading and causing further damage to the environment over time, early detection and monitoring systems can be deployed to the area where underwater releases of the oil and gas first occurred. Monitoring systems can provide a rapid inspection of the area by detecting chemical substances and collecting oceanographic data necessary for enhancing the accuracy of simulation of behavior of oil and gas. An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) called the spilled oil and gas tracking autonomous buoy system (SOTAB-I) has been developed to perform on-site measurements of oceanographic data as well as dissolved chemical substances using underwater mass spectrometry. In this chapter, the outlines of SOTAB-I and a description of its hardware and software are presented. The operating modes and guidance and control of the robot are detailed. The experimental results obtained during the early deployments of SOTAB-I in the shallow water of the Gulf of Mexico in the USA demonstrated the ability of SOTAB-I to collect substances’ dissolutions in seawater such as hydrocarbons. Deepwater experiments were conducted in Toyama Bay in Japan and enabled demonstration of the ability of SOTAB-I to establish the vertical water column distribution of oceanographic data, such as temperature, salinity, and density. In addition, a high-resolution profile of water currents was obtainable.

Depth Control of AUV Using a Buoyancy Control Device

A new method for depth control was developed for a spilled oil and blow out gas tracking autonomous buoy robot called SOTAB-I by adjusting its buoyancy control device. It is aimed to work for any target depth. The new method relies on buoyancy variation model with depth that was established based on experimental data. The depth controller was verified at sea experiments in Toyama bay in Japan and showed good performance. The method could further be adapted to altitude control by combining the altitude data measured from bottom tracking through a progressive depth control. The method was verified by a simulating program and showed that the algorithm succeeded to bring the robot to the target altitude.

Construction of Guidance and Control System and GUI of an Autonomous Underwater Robot SOTAB-I

Abstract Heavy disasters of oil spill bring enormous damage on the ocean environment as well as regional economies. To know when, where and how much the spilled oil and gas float up on the sea surface, and where the floating oil on the sea surface drift ashore, we need information of advection, diffusion and dispersion of underwater oil and gas, and its prediction. This paper describes the guidance and control system and GUI of the underwater robot SOTAB-I (SOTAB; Spilled Oil Tracking Autonomous Buoy) that tracks spilled oil autonomously and gathers oceanographic data.