Subsea vehicle with flooded connector detection system

Abstract

Presence of water may be detected in internal circuitry of a subsea vehicle by measuring a change in resistance across two terminals to detect the presence of water using a interlock detection system comprising a plurality of voltage sources, connected to a ground, a predetermined set of connectors; an electrical conduit operatively connected to the predetermined set of connectors; an interlock detector comprising an analog circuit and an interlock electrical conduit as well as a first terminal and a second terminal; and a control system. Resistance is measured across the first and second terminals to detect presence of water proximate the first and second terminals, electrical faults, or lack of electrical faults where the measured resistance will equate to a predetermined voltage to be interpreted by the control system. A change in resistance measured across the first and second terminals aids in detection of the presence of water proximate the first and second terminals where the measured change in resistance may be used to detect a change in a state of the end device and the detected change used to effect controlling power to the end device.