Charging system for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and method for lifting and recovering AUV

• Main Authors: Takashi Okada, Noriyuki Okaya, Toshiya Hayashi, Kosuke Masuda, Minehiko Mukaida, Manabu Matsui, Seiji Kashiwagi, Fumitaka Tachinami
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 08.07.2020
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT CARRIERS; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; RELATED EQUIPMENT; SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; SUBMARINES; TRANSPORTING

A charging system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a charging station having a base positioned in water, a pole extending in the vertical direction, and a charging unit; and an AUV having an underwater vehicle body, a power reception unit, a holding device having a pair of guide parts that guide a contacted pole from the advancing-direction side into a holding position and a holding part that holds the pole guided into the holding position such that the pole is capable of relative rotation, a propulsion generation device that generates propulsion force in the horizontal direction, and a control device that controls the propulsion generation device; the base and the underwater vehicle body being provided, respectively, with a light emitter and a light receiver, and the control device controlling the propulsion generation device so that the light receiver reaches a rotation position, in relation to the pole, at which light emitted from the light emitter is received.