Underwater Absorber for a Remotely Operated Vehicle

Fixed-point underwater hovering is a key technology for the reliable operation of a remotely operated vehicle in the ocean to inspect the surfaces of a variety of underwater structures, such as ports and offshore wind power facilities. This study proposes an underwater wall absorber that can be used in remotely operated vehicles. First, we explain the working principle of the underwater absorber. Second, we analyze the main factors affecting its adsorption performance by using numerical simulations. Finally, we show the results of a tested prototype of the proposed absorber, whose performance was consistent with the results of numerical calculations. The proposed absorber may have important technical prospects for use in remotely operated underwater vehicles.