AUV Docking Project is successfully
completed
by: Maridan
A/S
Friday, June 08, 2001
In the last week of May, Maridan of Denmark, together with its
project partners, completed the trials of the Eurodocker project.
The trials took place in Kiel Harbor, Germany and consisted of
having the MARIDAN 150 docking numerous times into the Eurodocker.
Anders Bjerrum, Maridan's Technology Director said: "With the
completion of the Eurodocker project, AUV docking technology has
matured significantly. Besides developing the dock itself, the
project has resulted in successful development of advanced
algorithms to take into account the effect of waves and currents.
Advanced VRML 3D graphics were developed to enable computer models
to simulate docking procedures to a degree where they can be used
for operator training. All of these sub-projects complemented each
other and have made the project a total success"
The main objective of the Eurodocker project was to develop and
demonstrate the technology necessary to accomplish the highly
complex task of automatically docking an AUV for data transfer and
power connections to a docking station that is either lowered from a
surface ship or mounted to an unmanned underwater platform on the
sea-bed.
The Eurodocker Docking-Down-Loading-Recharging (DDLR) system
consists of a Mechatronic Docking Device mounted to a support
platform and its counterpart onboard the AUV, the Mechanical Docking
Device.
The partners in the Eurodocker project, which was funded under
the EU MAST III program, were:
University of Hanover
Studio 3 Engineering / SATE
Orca Instrumentation
Maridan A/S
The trials of the docking system were performed at various AUV
depth intervals in the harbor ranging from surface level to full
submergence. The docking station and the underlying concept has been
developed as a fully working model concept, and is now ready for
exploitation as a commercial offshore solution.
Jens Pind, Maridan's Managing Director said: "Eurodocker has been
an exciting project for Maridan because it has proven that Maridan
is both commercially oriented and innovative at the same time. The
project's successful conclusion shows that when industry is ready to
think 'Complete autonomy' Maridan is ready to meet their
requirements."
