DVFU: Pandora

Pandora — the underwater robot developed by specialists of Far Eastern Federal University (DVFU).

According to information for March, 2019, the robot is able to perform different functions under water, in particular, to distinguish separate objects by means of eyes video cameras, to transport loads, to lift and reset them in a certain place.

2019

Testing of a system of intellectual support of activity of operators

Engineers robotics of Far Eastern Federal University (DVFU) together with colleagues from Institute of problems of sea technologies the FEB RAS and Institute of automatic equipment and management processes of the FEB RAS completed a stage of theoretical researches in the field of underwater robotics and are ready to start development of completely independent underwater robot with the manipulator. Tests can be passed in three years. On September 2, 2019 reported about it in DVFU.

In July-August, 2019 scientists tested the system of intellectual support of activity of operators of remotely piloted uninhabited submersibles (TNPA). Works were carried out in the Pacific Ocean within the deep-water expedition of National scientific center of sea biology of A.V. Zhirmunsky of the FEB RAS on "Academician M.A. Lavrentyev" research vessel.

As noted in DVFU, using the system of intellectual support it was succeeded to provide simultaneous exact traffic control of the vessel, depth of immersion of the block-zaglubitelya and TNPA Comanche 18 in the conditions of a difficult relief of a ground surface. A system itself planned routes of movements taking into account the changing work area of Comanche 18, and issued warnings and recommendations to the operator of TNPA. According to the results of tests all assigned tasks were carried out in the conditions of strong currents and a difficult relief of slopes of underwater mountains. A system completely excluded any emergency situations.

Comanche 18 made 21 immersions, net time of its working manipulations was 52 hours. The device inspected slopes and tops of underwater mountains (guyots) of the Imperial ridge, made video filming, made selection of marine organisms, took samples of soil and geological breeds.

According to scientists, the tested system of intellectual support of activity of operators is a part of the generalized management information system on the basis of which in three years the domestic completely independent underwater robot equipped with the multi-joint manipulator can be created. The cost of development will depend on the specific technical characteristics demanded by the customer.

The robot will be able independently to carry out assigned tasks in the conditions of uncertainty: perform research and technology operations in depths of the World Ocean and also shelf researches in extreme conditions of the Arctic.

"With development of digital technologies, electronic base and detectors the accuracy, high-speed performance and capacity of underwater robots began to exceed human much more. We created an intelligent system of management which consists of four subsystems. The first using onboard sensors provides smooth approach of the robot to object of works. The second stabilizes the robot in space even in the presence of unknown undercurrents and at the manipulator working in the viscous environment. The third identifies venues of transactions and plans trajectories of the movement of an operating part of the manipulator for accomplishment of these transactions. The fourth manages signals of operation of drives of the manipulator. Thanks to our system robots can distinguish a surrounding situation and different objects, plan trajectories of the movement in the environment with any obstacles and diagnose the arising defects, neutralizing them in the automatic mode", 'Alexander Konoplin, the senior teacher of department of automation and management of the DVFU Engineering school, the leading researcher of Institute of problems of sea technologies of the FEB RAS noted'

According to the scientist, similar developments are conducted in the largest foreign scientific centers, however there are no mass-produced models of independent submersibles with manipulators as of September, 2019 yet. Competitive advantage of domestic development consists in already implemented intelligent system of management. It can be quickly and is built successfully in the existing and perspective robots using a different set of the equipment and to improve figures of merit of their work even in the conditions of uncertainty of a working environment.

Results of theoretical developments of scientific DVFU and FEB RAS can be applied during creation of intelligent industrial manipulators and in those fields of robotics where the mobile robots equipped by multi-joint manipulators are used emphasized in DVFU.

Basic researches within the project are executed at a financial support of RNF and Russian Federal Property Fund funds.

Representation in the championship on underwater robotics in Singapore

The joint command of Far Eastern Federal University (DVFU) and Institute of problems of sea technologies of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPMT FEB RAS) won a victory in the open Championship of Asia on underwater robotics — Singapore AUV Challenge-2019 which passed in the Singapore polytechnical university from March 8 to March 11, 2019.

As reported TAdviser in DVFU on March 12, 2019, the Pandora robot prepared especially for the championship. During the final the smart machine, using only own "sight", without communication with the person "performed" all tasks delivered by organizers: it overcame the set distance in the pool, passed in gate and found a pinger — the ultrasonic underwater beacon. Read more here.

Robotics