Autonomous Underwater Vehicle "R-one Robot" Equipped with CCDE
Full-scale autonomous diving and oceanographic measuring tests of the "R-one Robot" were carried out on August 17, 19 and 21. The vehicle met all expectations for this stage of development. The "R-one Robot" was completed in the fall of 1995 as a prototype of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). It has attracted attention as a next generation oceanographic exploring apparatus.
The August tests, the second round of such experiments, followed a first series of tests conducted in July. The research and development of this AUV has been jointly undertaken by Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (MES) and the underwater robot research group of the Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo. For this R&D, MES has received a grant from the Association for Structural Improvement of the Shipbuilding Industry.
A significant feature of the "R-one Robot" is that a closed-cycle diesel engine (CCDE) has been used as its power system. The CCDE's electric power output drives the main propulsion system, two vertical thrusters, the control system, the navigation system and
