A drone with a GoPro camera that will allow a person to see the underwater world. Underwater drone - what is it for and which model is better Underwater drone

An underwater drone will replace eyes, arms and legs where a person is in real danger or inability to reach the target. The device is designed for horizontal and vertical swimming in order to view hard-to-reach areas under water. Whether military technology inspired the developers of the first hydro-robots or electronic toys is now difficult to determine. The device has found application not only among advanced fishermen and hunters for underwater beauties. The new invention is increasingly used by rescue services and underwater reconnaissance. Underwater treasure hunters quietly and imperceptibly adjoin them. In today's review, we will consider the TOP 3 best underwater drones of 2017.

Underwater drone PowerRay

PowerVision continues to innovate in self-driving cameras. Having exhausted the theme of the "flying egg", the inventors decided to conquer the water element. The result was the PowerRay underwater drone.

1. Appearance and equipment. Before you buy an electronic "tortoise" from PowerVision, decide which of the three options suits you best. All three models have on board excellent optics (ZEISS) and a video camera that records in 4K format. To date, this ultra-high definition video standard provides the best picture. The PowerRay Explorer drone (“explorer”, base model) is equipped with a 50-meter cable connecting it to the base station float. PowerRay Angler ("angler", mid-level model) is much smarter than "explorer". The Angler has a firefly on board to attract fish. The PowerRay Wizard model (“magician”, the most expensive and advanced model) is really capable of working miracles, showing the underwater world in real time. Each of the drones weighs approximately 3.8 kg and measures 465x270x126mm. The weight of the base station does not exceed 0.2 kg. The PowerRay also includes a remote control, sonar, camera and Charger. Drone control technology is not yet advanced enough to leave it without a leash. The cable does not let it go astray caused by strong currents, passes the power supply and the video signal.
2. Functionality. Let's start with the PowerRay underwater drone itself. It is capable of diving to a depth of 30 m. The lifting speed is 0.4 m/s, and maximum speed displacement in the water column - 2 m/s. By the way, the battery life (1-2 hours) depends on the speed. The drone's photo and video camera uses a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor with a sensitivity range of ISO 100-1600. It can take pictures (maximum picture resolution is 12 megapixels, 4000x3000) and record video in 4K and Full HD, in MP4 and MOV formats. Continuous shooting is done at a speed of 5 frames / s. The choice of shooting modes, formats and resolutions is carried out through a remote control that resembles a smartphone. Here we enjoy the picture in real time. The built-in memory of the camera is 64 gigabytes. The base station is equipped with Wi-Fi operating in the range of 30 m. The sonar (fish finder) operates at a frequency of 125 kHz, with a sounding angle of 30 °, and a depth of 0.6–40 m. Its communication range with Wi-Fi exceeds 80 meters. The sonar is equipped with 6 LED flashlights. In general, it can be launched into independent swimming by disconnecting it from the drone, but not from the umbilical cord of the cable. Use it to measure water temperature, depth and the level of anxiety of the fish (there is such an indicator). The measurement results will be displayed on the remote control screen (if you enable this mode). The operating temperature of the device ranges from -20 to 65 degrees.
3. Additional Information. underwater drone Powerray is an improved version of the OpenROV Trident, which was promoted on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform. Crowdfunding or public funding provides the strongest support for almost all underwater drone projects. Also worth noting is the presence of a battery with a capacity of 6400 mAh.

Technology does not stand still, being embodied in new toys and technical devices. Unfortunately, the PowerRay underwater drone does not yet have the ability to get rid of the cable, which can get tangled in algae or in the keel of the yacht. Despite this, the invention is reliable assistant fishermen and directors-submariners, and not only in south seas where sharks are still found.

The price of PowerRay in Russia is from €1,599 to €2,099 depending on the model. The video review is presented below:

iBubble underwater drone

This cute device will obediently accompany the owner while diving and walking along the bottom. It's simply impossible to lose sight of its bright yellow body and transparent bubble protecting the camcorder. It is the “bulb” that is the hallmark of the iBubble drone and explains the name.

1. Appearance and equipment. The unit has a streamlined shape, reminiscent of a turtle, a flounder fish and a stingray at the same time. As you know, these little animals move perfectly under water. The GoPro Hero 3 (4) camera is hermetically sealed with a transparent hemisphere made of durable plastic. The camera has a backlight of two LED lights, 1000 lumens each. The American company GoPro specializes in the production of high-quality action cameras designed for active sports and recreation. The remote control for this model is a wristband. This once again indicates that the drone was created primarily for divers. Here you can select video or photo mode, control the movement of the drone and monitor the sensors. The 100-meter cable will come in handy when you launch the drone on its own while staying on the shore. In this case, the iBubble underwater drone will be controlled using joysticks. The dimensions of the device are 50x35x25 cm, and the weight is about 5 kg.
2. Functionality underwater drone iBubble. The camera label tells us that either a GoPro Hero 3 or GoPro Hero 4 can be mounted on the drone. Let's see what a later model can give us, although it is no longer the latest today. The camera is capable of shooting ultra-high definition video. The frame rate depends on the resolution selected by the user. The main innovation of this camera is video recording of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 fps. Full HD and HD modes are possible at 120 fps. For extreme sportsmen special mode, which allows you to get a clear picture at 240 fps. HERO 4 also offers the Extended Capture feature, which allows you to cover the maximum area to create a frame. Another special mode is provided for low light conditions. Modules built into the camera wireless transmission WiFi data and bluetooth. Get beautiful pictures and videos on Android, Windows phone or iOS. By turning on the tracking mode, you will force the camera to automatically follow the animal of your choice and keep it in the field of view. The camera has fixed swivel positions, both vertically and horizontally. The transparent hemisphere of the "space suit" allows you to view fairly large spaces. When photographing, stabilization works, so your pictures will always be clear. The iBubble drone is capable of diving to a depth of 60 meters and operates completely autonomously, gracefully bypassing obstacles. You can control the device remotely at a distance of 25 meters. Cruise speed reaches 3.6 km/h. The lithium-ion battery lasts for an hour, but if you're an amphibian and prefer to dive for hours, change batteries on the go. The device automatically pops up when the charge ends.
3. Additional Information. The iBubble underwater drone is designed primarily for diving enthusiasts and divers. He is an extension of your senses where and where you cannot or do not want to swim. For example, a luxurious octopus lurks around the corner of a cliff. It is unlikely that he will wait until you get close to him to capture him. The iBubble drone will do this quietly and imperceptibly, without disturbing the peace and natural state of the animal. Tests carried out show that sea creatures do not pay attention to the yellow silent "fish", mistaking it for one of their own.

The robot winding next to you seems alive, especially since it is not held back by a cable. The price of iBubble in Russia is 2200 dollars.

Underwater drone Gladius Ultra HD 4K

China is rapidly catching up with Japan and Korea in the development of new technologies, trying to occupy underdeveloped niches. It is no coincidence that Gladius Ultra HD 4K drone was in the TOP-3 of the best underwater drones of 2017. The Chinese managed to embody the best achievements in it modern science and technology, without renouncing direct plagiarism.

1. Appearance and equipment. This sleek, streamlined underwater life watcher weighs around 3kg. The design of the underwater drone Gladius Ultra HD 4K resembles iBubble - the same side cylinders for horizontal engines and a transparent case that protects the "electronic eye". Its body is made of lightweight aluminum alloy, which moves with the help of four electric motors (or propellers, as they are called). Two of them are designed for diving and ascent, and the other two are for horizontal movement. Having the same configuration, Gladius is represented by two models - standard and advanced. In the standard model, the Wi-Fi range between the buoy and the control panel is 30 meters. The cable connecting the buoy and the drone is unwound at the same distance. The same indicators in the advanced model reach values ​​of 500 m and 100 m, respectively. Both versions are equipped with two 1200 lumen LED fireflies, an SD card slot and two lithium polymer batteries. The dimensions of the drone in millimeters are: 430x270x94.
2. Capabilities of underwater drone Gladius Ultra HD 4K. The control function is performed by a joystick attached to a smartphone (not included). On the screen of your gadget, you control the movement of the drone using a special application for iOS or Android. The transmission of signals and information from the camera is carried out partially wirelessly (Wi-Fi between the base station and the joystick), and between the base station and the drone - via cable. From the marking it is clear that the Gladius Ultra HD 4K has an ultra-sensitive camera capable of shooting in HD (1080 pixels) and 4K video standard. Online monitoring is possible thanks to 720p video stream. Naturally, the camera has a photo function (16 megapixels). Send beautiful pictures to your friends' smartphones and tablets. The submarine develops a speed of 2 m/s. The duration of the battery charge depends on the conditions of use, so the time of their joint work can vary from one and a half to 3-4 hours.
3. Additional Information. Chasing Innovations, the creator of the Gladius Ultra HD 4K underwater drone, was founded by a former engineer at Huawei Technologies Co., China's largest telecommunications brand. Ltd. Underwater drones, like the vast majority of innovative ideas, are developed and produced on the basis of crowdfunding, that is, a public initiative. Gladius is one of the projects of the funding site Indiegogo. By making an advance payment, you thereby become a member of the Gladius Ultra HD 4K project. Accordingly, when buying a submariner robot, you will receive a significant discount at a price of 599 USD.

The new idea has already spawned many startups that seek to outdo each other in range, accuracy, maneuverability and beauty. The 2017 models have reached the limit of technical excellence, which is able to provide the level of modern science. A significant flaw is the inability to do without the umbilical cord of the cable. The transmission of information in the water element wirelessly is difficult. The iBubble underwater drone described above has become an option for a breakthrough into the future. He is able to autonomously circle around the owner for a very long time. close range by following his commands. To receive a signal to the gadget in real time, you will have to use a traditional cable to connect the drone to an intermediate station.

The price of the Gladius Ultra HD 4K underwater drone in Russia is 1,399 USD, and the advanced configuration is 1,699 USD. More about the device in the video below:

The activities of startups are closely monitored by military experts. Russian military-industrial complex is already developing an underwater robotic autonomous uninhabited glider capable of detecting and spying on submarines. However, a military glider is unlikely to interest ordinary citizens. The market for underwater drones is being actively explored by the electronic toy industry. It is quite possible that soon the toy robot submariner will be no different from the "adult" counterpart. Developers are looking for new solutions and, quite possibly, in the near future we will have a breakthrough into the world of new, incredible opportunities.

According to last Review nuclear potential (Nuclear Posture Review), Russia is developing a new nuclear torpedo/drone, dubbed "Status-6". Although the torpedo has some worrisome capabilities (I already wrote about this in my article), this is not the first such weapon that the Russians are working on. More importantly, Status-6 appears to have fatal flaws that limit its practical effectiveness in combat scenarios.

background

Nuclear torpedoes were actively developed in the years cold war. The earliest development is the Project 627 nuclear attack submarines November, which were considered as carriers of the T-15 nuclear torpedo, designed to attack NATO port facilities. These torpedoes provided the Soviet Union with an opportunity to limit NATO naval dominance, and were also seen as an alternative means of striking the United States.

However, the range of the T-15 torpedo was only about 40 kilometers (25 miles) and its speed did not exceed 25 knots, and therefore it was difficult to imagine a situation in which a submarine could successfully carry out this kind of attack. The project was closed, and the Novembers themselves were rebuilt and became normal nuclear attack submarines. Later the United States and Soviet Union will adopt nuclear torpedoes optimized for tactical missions.

Opportunities

Judging by the currently available information, it can be assumed that after separation from the carrier submarine, Status-6 begins to move towards the intended target under its own power and already under its own control. Speed underwater drone reaches 56 knots, it is capable of diving to a depth of 1000 meters, and its range is 10 thousand kilometers (6200 miles). Its speed and depth pose a challenge to existing navy capabilities, as it outperforms most existing torpedoes in terms of depth and speed.

If this unmanned underwater vehicle is ever put into service, the United States is likely to respond with its own underwater drone. Given the range, this drone can be launched from coastal installations, although data on its launch may indicate that fighting will soon begin, while in a critical situation they serve as a casus belli, that is, a reason for war.

Context

In the United States, they thought about high-precision weapons of Russia

AldriMer.no 01/10/2018

Cyborgs and Kalashnikovs 2.0

Gli Occhi Della Guerra 11/30/2017

Updated "Leader" will contain the United States

Sina.com 05.12.2017
It is not yet clear what kind of communication the Russians will be able to maintain with the underwater drone once it is launched, although its performance suggests it will be controlled by surface ships. This is by no means a trivial question. When launched from maximum distance, the Status-6 drone is likely to take up to four days to reach its intended target. This is extremely dangerous in a crisis, since the political dynamics at the time of launch may differ from what will be at the time of the strike on the target. Moreover, the prospect of having a weapon that moves independently towards its target within four days is troubling to say the least.

"Status-6" could most likely be used as a strategic deterrent designed to have another opportunity to strike the United States that cannot be prevented by defense systems. ballistic missiles. Despite its vast nuclear arsenal, Russia has long been concerned about the security of its second strike capability, given the combined strike capabilities of the United States and improved missile defense. But as Brian Clark points out (quoted by Dave Majumdar in his article), Status 6 is not a practical deterrent.

As for first strike weapons, the usefulness of a drone will depend on the utmost secrecy and high reliability; if the Americans can detect its launch, or for some reason it is late in reaching the target, then the element of surprise will be lost. As a last-strike deterrent, this underwater drone may have the dual disadvantage of being able to approach its target after the main events of the conflict, and furthermore, it may not have a "shutdown" system that the Russian political leadership could use as a bargaining chip. in the negotiations.

It can be assumed that the "Status-6" is also capable of attacking the accumulation of warships, including American strike aircraft carrier groups. However, this will require a more advanced command and control system, or it will be necessary to make the device autonomous enough to make a decision regarding the choice of target and the time of detonation.

conclusions

As some analysts say, the idea of ​​using a long-range underwater drone armed with a nuclear weapon is disturbing, but it does not look quite realistic. Uncertain and hard to imagine are the conditions under which the Russian political leadership will make a decision to use a weapon capable of hitting its intended target only after a few days.

In fact, such an underwater drone can serve rather as a test model for the development of other technologies. It may also be used by some design bureaus to save its funding, but it can hardly be called a ready-to-use combat complex.

However, one lesson is that against a determined enemy, an anti-missile system will never work, and in most cases it will be very expensive. Powerful nations such as China or Russia at least have the means to develop weapons that can destroy missile defenses or overcome them while destroying the security umbrella that the United States has accustomed itself to. Status 6 may not be such a weapon, but it is clear that Russia is exploring any means that might work.

The second lesson is that the old ideas seem to be really dead now. The nuclear torpedo was, almost literally, the first idea that the Soviet Union came up with, hoping (at the time) to overcome the vast superiority that the United States had in delivery vehicles. After 60 years, it looks like someone has revived this idea for a new Cold War cycle.

The materials of InoSMI contain only assessments of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.

Good day, our dear readers. From time to time we talk about professional drones and the ones in which they are used. However, not only in the air unmanned aerial vehicles able to help people. A modern underwater drone is capable of solving tasks that not so long ago were only possible for submersibles with people on board. The cost of devices that can work under water is gradually decreasing, while their functionality is growing.

Our selection includes 5 drones, but in fact, the number of drones capable of operating under water is much higher. Many companies have targeted this market, including those that specialize in quadrocopters.

If it seems to you that the scope of underwater devices is limited to purely professional tasks, then this is not entirely correct. Surely, devices for fishing, hunting, underwater photography, and scuba diving will become very popular over time.

Of course, first of all, underwater drones are being developed to participate in research, construction and rescue operations. But the solutions implemented in professional models will certainly be used in amateur-level drones. Actually, our article is devoted to amateur devices.

1st place

In the first place, we put a cute ibubble drone, created specifically for divers. He is able to follow his owner, using an echo sounder and a recognition system to navigate underwater. Bright yellow the hull is clearly visible even in not the most transparent waters.

ibubble is able to dive to a depth of 60 meters. This is not the most outstanding indicator, we will introduce you to deeper devices. However, ibubble is one of the most affordable diving devices. Its cost is about $ 2000 and this is certainly not a small amount if we are talking about aircraft. But other prices apply to diving equipment, so the model is considered inexpensive.

The latest GoPro Hero camera can be installed on board, and two powerful flashlights of 1000 lumens each are used for illumination. The control panel is fixed on the diver's arm. The drone can be given commands to dive and rise, as well as to move in different directions. The radio communication range is 25 meters.

The apparatus can be connected to a diving cable. The cable length is 400 meters, and this solves the issue of control range and autonomy. ibubble weighs 5 kilograms, and its built-in battery is enough for about an hour of work. When the battery is low, the device pops up on its own.

The disadvantages include a small communication range when using the remote control. But ibubble can follow the operator and is usually always nearby.

2nd place

Drone Gladius ultra hd 4k promises to be one of the most anticipated underwater vehicles. It must be controlled from land, that is, the operator will not be able to be under water. The control equipment is not designed for diving, and is a small remote control similar to a joystick for a set-top box. The remote control slides apart, and between its halves you can insert a smartphone.

Interestingly, a wi-fi buoy is used to communicate with a drone underwater. The remote control connects to the buoy, and the latter transmits signals directly to the device's receiver. Depending on the configuration (Standard, Advanced, Platinum), the removal distance is up to 500 meters. In the younger version, the removal distance is only 30 meters.

Gladius can be seen as a toy, but very functional. On board, she can carry an ultra hd 4k camera that shoots in 4K resolution. The Standard version includes a 1080p camera.

The diving depth is 100 meters. The battery lasts for 3 hours of work. A special diving cable can be purchased for the device. The cost of the most affordable version is only $600, however, its capabilities are rather limited. The Platinum package will cost $1025.

For professional use, Gladius is unlikely to be suitable, because it cannot be controlled while under water. It doesn't have tracking systems either. In addition, you need a wi-fi module and a buoy to dive.

3rd place

Fishing enthusiasts will surely love the PowerRay drone. It is equipped with a radar and is able to find schools of fish even in muddy water. Moreover, the device can be used for bait, because it is equipped with special light diodes.

A camera is installed on board the device. It transmits the image to a smartphone or augmented reality glasses.

You can control the drone by tilting your head. The operator gets a clear picture of what is happening underwater. The broadcast is in real time.

The fishing line with a hook and bait can be fixed on a special beam located on the back of the device. The fisherman will be able to see the approach of the fish even before it is in close proximity to the bathyscaphe.

The maximum diving depth is 70 meters. Video broadcasting takes place at a distance of up to 80 meters from the operator. On a single charge, the device works up to 4 hours, that is, it will be enough even for quite a long fishing trip. The device is equipped with sonar and sonar.

So far, only advanced fishermen have such miniature bathyscaphes, but over time, devices like PowerRay will become widespread.

4th place

For shooting underwater, the Blueye device is useful. Small in size, the device can be used even for viewing hard-to-reach places. Dimensions allow it to easily overcome underwater obstacles.

You can also consider Blueye as a fishing gadget. In addition to a camera that transmits video to a smartphone or glasses, it is equipped with hydroacoustic equipment and sensors to help detect schools of fish. Supports video recording in 4K resolution.

The immersion depth reaches 150 meters, and this is a worthy indicator. The weight of the bathyscaphe is 6.8 kg. To communicate with the operator, you can use the complete cable, 75 meters long. The communication range via Wi-Fi channel is at least 30 meters. The device has not yet gone on sale, but is already available in pre-order for $6,000. In addition to the remote control, the device can be remotely controlled using a smartphone.

5th place

The DTG2 Series of subsea devices is designed to meet a wide range of needs.

The line includes 4 models:

• starter
• Smart
• worker

Of interest is the entry-level model Starter. It has a democratic (compared to other models) price tag of $4,000 and good equipment. The diving depth is 100 meters, the duration of work reaches 8 hours. The drone is equipped with a camera, a powerful light and a remote control with an LCD screen. The kit includes a cable of 50 meters.

Output

In the near future, we are expecting a massive appearance of devices that can be conditionally called underwater quadrocopters. So far, they remain quite expensive entertainment, even despite the appearance of affordable models (for example, Gladius).

Shipbuilding company Huntington Ingalls and aerospace giant Boeing have announced that they are joining forces to create an underwater drone Echo Voyager. The goal is to arrange the supply of underwater unmanned systems to the US Navy as soon as possible.

Work on the fifty-ton Echo Voyager has been underway since 2014 in collaboration with DARPA, and recently it became known that Boeing began testing this drone no longer in a test pool, but in open ocean. The Echo Voyager is the largest underwater drone in development so far and belongs to the XLUUV (extra large unmanned undersea vehicle) class. So far, short-term dives to shallow depths are underway, but it is planned to send the drone to greater depths for a long time at the next stage. According to the creators, he will be able to stay in autonomous navigation for months, independently return to the base, float to the surface and transmit information. The drone itself consists of modules, which allows you to equip it with a certain filling for different tasks.

Underwater drones are considered as one of the priority areas for the development of the naval forces. Potential adversaries of the United States, that is, China and Russia, are improving their armed forces and American dominance on the surface of the water is becoming less obvious and guaranteed.

Another problem is the increasingly sophisticated tracking systems for large submarines. The Americans assume that the same China is building the so-called "great underwater wall"- a system of sensors that track underwater and surface targets in real time.

The third factor is the cost of maintaining large submarines with numerous crews on board. Autonomous drones, cheap and without people, look like an attractive replacement in the near future.

So the idea arose at the Pentagon to go underwater and take advantage of the technological advantage there by building drones that are smaller and less noisy than submarines. Ideally, the creation of “mother” underwater drones is being considered, which would carry entire swarms of smaller drones for various purposes under water.

Last year, Rear Admiral Matthias Winter stated: “The Office of Naval Research (ONR), which develops advanced technologies in the field of unmanned underwater vehicles, plans to deploy the “Eisenhower backbone network” on seabed in all areas of the oceans ... We want drones to go to sea on a mission once and then operate in the depths of the seas for decades.”

We are talking about creating underwater bases or technical stations where underwater drones could independently charge or undergo maintenance, transmit and store the collected information.

According to The Washington Post, the Pentagon planned to allocate about $ 3 billion for the development of underwater drones over the next few years.

In addition to Boeing, General Dynamics is also working on underwater drones, which last year acquired the robotics company Bluefin Robotics. The Bluefin-21 drone from this developer can launch its Sand Sharks underwater micro-drones and even “shoot” a small flying drone through the tube for aerial photography and information transmission.

Lockheed Martin was also able to launch a flying drone from its underwater drone, although the underwater drone had to surface to do so. The plans of almost all companies involved in this topic are to create a swarm of surface, underwater, and flying drones that can work in conjunction with each other.

By 2020, the Pentagon plans to have the first underwater group of drones. DARPA is thinking about creating underwater storage facilities for "sleeping" drones, which can be at the bottom for years and be activated in the event of hostilities.

There is another project - the creation of an underwater analogue of the GPS system, so that underwater drones can navigate in the depths of the world's oceans and at the same time not float to the surface. Companies and organizations such as DARPA, BAE Systems, Raytheon BBN and Draper Laboratory are working on a speaker system of this kind. In parallel, DARPA is exploring the possibility of installing small detachable antennas on underwater drones to transmit electromagnetic signals in aquatic environment. Testing of the new antennas will begin this summer.

If so far underwater drones are used mainly for passive information gathering, then in the future they will be assigned transport and logistics functions, and later - shock ones.

Even the UN has already taken care of the development of maritime unmanned systems. It is noted that since underwater communication with drones is one of the main problems, underwater systems are becoming more and more autonomous, and the day is not far off when they will perform not only reconnaissance or logistical functions, but also use weapons. It is in the sea, according to UN rapporteurs, that the first appearance of autonomous “killer robots” can be expected, since underwater operations do not attract as much attention from the public, the media and human rights activists as air strikes by unmanned systems.

Ilya Plekhanov

Drones are called unmanned devices controlled remotely - it can be flying, floating or any other robot controlled from a distance. For example, such machines are widely used by civilian and military sappers. Underwater drones are mainly used by scientists and rescuers to study sea ​​depths.

An ordinary person can also acquire a similar "toy" - the most common product, abundantly present on the market, can be called various kinds of multicopters. As a rule, products are equipped with video cameras or other sensors that help to control the tasks performed.

Drone types

Underwater drones are not as common as air or ground drones, however, at the time of 2015, the technology is being actively developed by private and military companies, since, unlike a weak and living person, the mechanism is able to carry heavier loads, and if it breaks, it will always can be repaired, this industry can be considered very promising. Of course, modern models are far from perfect, and their cost is fabulously high, however, like any new product that appears on the market. However, already now there are quite effective products that allow you to perform a number of complex tasks.

All remote controlled underwater models Techniques can be divided into 3 broad categories:

• military drones- serve to neutralize naval mines, patrolling the territory of the parking of warships, for investigative and rescue purposes in case of flooding of ships and other objects of value to the military
• research- used by scientific expeditions to study the depths of the sea, caves, and other geological underwater formations, it is also used to take soil samples and monitor the underwater biosphere.
• industrial — this species Drones are mainly used to service underwater elements of structures and communications.

Trident civilian underwater drone

At the moment, OpenROV is actively promoting its version of the underwater drone - it is worth highlighting it as the most advanced product available. ordinary people. The device received the proud name "Trident" (Trident). The trident is considered the fastest robot, it develops a speed comparable to the speed of 8 times Olympic champion in swimming, Michael Phelps - yes, these are the characteristics that the developers of the device themselves brought.

Another distinguishing feature of the model is its high maneuverability, which allows you to stop and turn it around in a matter of seconds. Such qualities can be useful in extreme situations, for example, if necessary, quickly detect a drowned person or avoid a collision. David Lang and Eric Stackpole, who invented the subject, were successfully experimenting with connecting a controller from a PlayStation 4 game console, streaming video to a monitor and Google's VR glasses.

As for the depth of immersion, it exceeds the hundred-meter mark allowed for an ordinary person. The creators have already conducted research on several deep-sea areas, in particular, the project was born as a desire of two friends to check the veracity ancient legend, which said that in 1800, in California, a group of Native Americans hid a certain amount of gold at great depths. This event received a response in the media, and was consecrated in USA Today.

Today, there are wireless and wired options. One of distinguishing features project is open source. In fact, any engineer can use the blueprints found on the site to build their own Trident, which has made the development of the technology difficult to track, since it is not known how many modifications there are in the world. For the rest, the product is sold here, at a price of $849.

Practical application of underwater drones

The US Army has long used various kinds of unmanned vehicles. As a rule, underwater options are designed to conduct reconnaissance, detect enemy submarines, or work with mines. However, in a civilian environment, devices have a much greater potential for use. Robots are largely capable of facilitating research projects related to the study of hard-to-reach areas of the ocean, small caves that a person simply cannot go into. Dozens of researchers have put into practice the product from OpenROV - the official website of the company even has a section on the work done, with marks of areas on the map.

Another promising area is education. In an interview, David Lang, founder of OpenROV, said that he was looking forward to the day when any student could look at the contents of the ocean without leaving the classroom. Natural science, biology, history are only small part sciences to which such technologies will contribute.

Repair and maintenance of equipment located under the depths. As a rule, these are cables and transport pipes. Getting to them is quite difficult and expensive. In extreme situations, the use of a controlled robot is perfect option for troubleshooting and damage.

Underwater drones in the military industry

In 2014, the US Navy conducted more than 20 tests of unmanned combat submarines. According to the Department of Defense, almost all tests were failed due to the imperfection of products manufactured by Lockheed Martin, one of the largest American contractors. The main task of the drones was to safely detonate mines, however, during the testing process, malfunctions in the remote control system were constantly encountered. At the same time, according to Joe Dougherty, who is a spokesman for Lockheed, at the moment their system can be considered the most advanced in the world, in addition, he noted that when testing drones, representatives of the Navy exceeded the allowable limits for the device.

The US government was going to allocate $ 864 million for the purchase of underwater unmanned combat vehicles, but a string of failures stretching since 2010 calls into question the continued funding of the program and the existence of drones in the form in which they are now.

Industrial underwater robots

The laying of fiber optic networks on the ocean floor, through which 90% of the Internet traffic in the world passes, is carried out using special mechanisms. In fact, these are autonomous robots that perform tasks that are predetermined by them. In part, they are controlled by operators from ships, however, most of work is done according to the program, nested in advance. Such devices cannot be called full-fledged drones, since in fact they are just a machine, like those that assemble cars or TVs in factories. Looking from a different angle, they can be safely called the fathers of modern underwater drones, a kind of founders of the movement, inspirers.

Such machines are equipped with 6 degrees of freedom and end with either grips or a nozzle for a specific operation, such as a welding electrode or cutting shears. Perhaps the most famous and successfully used robot is robot sawfish(drank fish). The task of the robot is to cut down trees that were once flooded. He cuts them with a chain saw (its length is 1.5 meters). Before cutting, the robot screws an air balloon into the tree trunk at a distance of 15 cm from the cut, which brings the tree to the surface. The apparatus controlled by the operator through the cable from the surface of the reservoir, through the cable (200 meters long) power is supplied to all systems.

Problems and disadvantages of underwater drones

According to Professor George A. Bekey, who specializes in computer science, electrical engineering and biomedical engineering, unlike ground and air drones, their underwater counterparts have huge problems in providing stable communications. This is due to the presence of water around the device, which greatly distorts the signal. In addition, at the time of 2012, the US Navy did not have an acceptable power source capable of operating efficiently for a long time. It is in 2012 that the Navy is focusing on the development of equipment capable of performing more than one task at a time, but as already mentioned above, the projects are still facing the same navigational problems.

conclusions

Looking at modern advances in robotics, it becomes clear that underwater drones are far from their ground and air counterparts. At the same time, it is safe to say that at the current rate of technological development, humanity is waiting for many achievements in this area. There are always many difficulties on the way to perfection and efficiency, but looking back at history, it becomes clear that there are no insurmountable obstacles, and there are always people who can break stereotypes and take the right step towards success.

What will be the capabilities of unmanned vehicles in 10 years? Ways to use drones to repair equipment and extract valuable resources are already being actively developed, and although humans are indispensable for the time being, our descendants may not have to risk their own lives working in dangerous conditions.