Introduction Remote-operated Underwater Vehicle for Inspection of Underwater Structure

Abstract

Since many dams and bridges constructed in last century are facing serious safety issue resulting from leakage, erosion, and crack, it is increasingly urgent to develop more inspection and repair technologies that can be used for the maintenance operation. This essay introduces the practical application of underwater structure inspection conducted by remote-operated underwater vehicle. The applications include Mullaperiyar dam, Amagase dam, Aqua bridege, and Shorenji dam. And the application skills are summarized in inspecting small leaks of dam in clean water, inspection in turbid water, conducting survey in easy-entangled environment, and operation in flowing water. The advantages of remote-operated underwater vehicle compared with traditional divers are accumulated, and the remaining problem of existing remote-operated underwater vehicle are also summarized. This paper further provides experience of its operation in low-visibility water and stabilizing its position in turbulence, as well as solving the difficulties of getting the cables entangled in easy-winding water. Besides, an outlook is provided for remote-operated underwater vehicle’s development tendency in the field of underwater detection and reinforcement, with the purpose of addressing more critical problem in maintaining underwater structure in the future.