Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Hiroshi Sakaue

Minehiko Mukaida

Noriyuki Okaya

Takashi Okada

Fumitaka Tachinami

Koichi Fukui

Kosuke Masuda

Shinichi Miyata

Yuki Kaga

Manabu Matsui

Takeru Kuzuya

An underwater vehicle system includes: a first underwater vehicle configured to perform work in water while moving in a predetermined proceeding direction; and a second underwater vehicle configured to replace the first underwater vehicle and perform work in water. When the second underwater vehicle replaces the first underwater vehicle, the second underwater vehicle approaches the first underwater vehicle based on a signal transmitted from the first underwater vehicle.

Underwater vehicle system and working method

An AUV support system includes: a surface ship; an underwater station configured to support an AUV which autonomously sails in water; and a cable connecting the surface ship and the underwater station. The cable includes: a first cable portion extending downward from the surface ship through a water surface when the underwater station is suspended in the water by the cable from the surface ship that is in a stop state on the water; a second cable portion extending upward from a lower end portion of the first cable portion when the underwater station is suspended as above; and a third cable portion extending downward from an upper end portion of the second cable portion and connected to the underwater station when the underwater station is suspended as above.

Autonomous underwater vehicle support system

A charging system for an autonomous underwater vehicle includes: a sea floating body; a charging station suspended in water from the body through a string-shaped body and located downstream of the sea floating body by receiving a water flow, the station including a noncontact electricity supplying portion located away from the string-shaped body; and an autonomous underwater vehicle coupled to the station that is rotatable about the string-shaped body, the vehicle including a noncontact electricity receiving portion configured to receive electricity supplied from the supplying portion, wherein: the station takes by the water flow such a posture that the noncontact electricity supplying portion is located downstream of the string-shaped body in a water flow direction; and when the vehicle is coupled to the station, the vehicle takes by the water flow such a posture that the receiving portion is located downstream of the string-shaped body in the water flow direction.

Charging system for autonomous underwater vehicle

An autonomous underwater vehicle including an underwater vehicle main body incorporating a power source, a buoy connected to the underwater vehicle main body through a rope, and an ejector configured to, with the underwater vehicle main body floating on a sea surface, eject the buoy from the underwater vehicle main body by compressed gas in an obliquely upward direction.

Autonomous underwater vehicle

An underwater actuator includes: a housing to be immersed under water; a cylinder chamber formed in the housing; a piston accommodated in the cylinder chamber so the piston is movable in a sliding manner in the cylinder chamber, the piston dividing the cylinder chamber into a first and a second pressure receiving chambers; a rod extending from the piston to the first pressure receiving chamber side, the rod penetrating the housing; a release chamber formed in the housing, having an internal pressure kept lower than a water pressure outside of the housing; and a switching mechanism including: a first switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the outside of the housing to allow or block communication therebetween; and a second switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the release chamber to allow or block communication therebetween.

Underwater actuator and underwater vehicle including the same

An underwater docking system for an autonomous underwater vehicle, the underwater docking system including: an underwater station including a base mount fixed to a seabed and a circular frame member supported by the base mount and parallel to a horizontal plane; and an autonomous underwater vehicle configured to dock with the underwater station while sailing through an upper side of the frame member, wherein: the autonomous underwater vehicle includes an underwater vehicle main body.

Growing community of inventors

Kobe, Japan

Hiroshi Sakaue