Adapting a casting winch for a non-stop wave propelled USV

该项目是为了适应和开发一种COTS铸造绞车，以在波浪推进的AutoNaut无人水面船(USV)的100米深处作业。由于USV不会停止，并在最极端的环境中运行，这对实现100米以上、具有100%可靠性的USV提出了特殊的创新挑战。USV已被证明有能力在没有支持母舰的情况下，在任何天气条件下在海上作业超过115天和4000海里。因此，它是观测英国近海和深海生物多样性的理想零碳平台。随着海上漂浮风力发电(FLOW)的进一步发展，这一点尤其相关。绞车将扩大USV观测的范围。如果成功，这项创新还将在科学、国防、石油天然气、流量和其他商业应用领域带来巨大的全球市场机遇。绞车传感器应用包括CTD、相机部署、海流剖面、水质、声速以及被动声监测(PAM)。自动驾驶对绞车的使用提出了特殊的挑战。它们不会停止，因为波浪推进是连续的，而且出于同样的原因，它会激增。到目前为止，还没有商业上可用的绞车适合安装在这艘5米长的船上。我们现在已经确定OSIL微仿形绞车应该是合适的，并针对上述挑战进行调整。这项建议是：1.将Osil绞车安装并集成到5米AutoNaut2中。2.设计和建造传感器展开壳。3.设计和安装合适的紧急切割器。4.对绞车展开进行干燥测试。5.进行海试并验证绞车、传感器和蓝牙数据传输。海试区需要超过100米的深度。因此，为了经济和实用，建议在尼斯湖进行海试，因为尼斯湖提供了到达100米以上深度的短距离，并有机会立即进行调整。

This project is to adapt and develop a COTS casting winch to operate to 100m deep from the wave propelled AutoNaut uncrewed surface vessel (USV). Because the USV does not stop, and operates in the most extreme environments, this presents a special innovation challenge to achieve 100m plus, with 100% reliability.The USV has proven ability to operate offshore for over 115 days and 4,000 nautical miles in all weather and without a supporting mothership. As such it is an ideal zero carbon platform for observing UK offshore and deep ocean biodiversity.This is particularly relevant as floating offshore wind power (FLOW) is developed further offshore.The winch will extend the horizon of USV observation. If successful, the innovation also presents a significant global market opportunity in science, as well as defence, Oil and Gas, FLOW and other commercial applications.Winch sensor applications include CTD, camera deployment, profiling of currents, water quality, sound velocity, and also passive acoustic monitoring (PAM).AutoNauts present special challenges for winch use. They do not stop because the wave propulsion is continuous, and for the same reason it surges. Until now no commercially available winch has been suitable for mounting in this 5m vessel.We have now identified that the OSIL 'Micro Profiling Winch' should be suitable, with adaptations specific to the above challenges.This proposal is to:1.Fit and integrate the OSIL winch into a 5m AutoNaut2.To design and build a deployment housing for sensors.3.To design and fit a suitable emergency line-cutter.4.To dry test the winch deployment.5.To sea trial and prove the winch, sensor, and blue tooth data transfer. The sea trial area requires more than 100m depth. Therefore, for economy and practicality it is proposed to conduct the sea trial in Loch Ness, which offers a short distance to reach 100m+ depths, and the opportunity to make immediate adjustments.