Unmanned underwater vehicle and method for operating an unmanned underwater vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an unmanned underwater vehicle ( 1 ) which can be controlled according to predefinable control information by means of a control device ( 3 ). The invention also relates to a method for operating an unmanned underwater vehicle ( 1 ). To reduce the outlay for investigations of underwater areas using unmanned underwater vehicles, the invention provides for the underwater vehicle ( 1 ) to be able to be controlled either in an autonomous operating mode or in a remotely controlled operating mode, predetermined internal control information from a memory element ( 13 ) being able to be predefined to the control device ( 3 ) in the autonomous operating mode and external control information being able to be predefined to the control device ( 3 ) via a communication device ( 11 ) of the underwater vehicle ( 1 ) in the remotely controlled operating mode.

1 . Unmanned underwater vehicle which can be controlled according to predefinable control information by a control device ( 3 ),
 wherein   the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) can be controlled either in an autonomous operating mode or in a remotely controlled operating mode, predetermined internal control information from a memory element ( 13 ) being able to be predefined to the control device ( 3 ) in the autonomous operating mode and external control information being able to be predefined to the control device ( 3 ) via a communication device ( 11 ) of the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) in the remotely controlled operating mode.   
     
     
         2 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) has an operating mode selection means ( 15 ,  15 ′) which can be used to set either the autonomous operating mode or the remotely controlled operating mode.   
     
     
         3 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein   the operating mode selection means ( 15 ,  15 ′) is arranged on the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) such that it is accessible from the outside and can be manually operated.   
     
     
         4 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein   the operating mode selection means ( 15 ′) can be remotely controlled via a wireless communication medium or via a connection cable ( 9 ).   
     
     
         5 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein   the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) has a cable receptacle ( 12 ) for connecting the connection cable ( 9 ).   
     
     
         6 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein   the mode selection means ( 15 ′) and the communication device ( 11 ) can be connected to a common wireless communication medium or to a common connection cable ( 9 ).   
     
     
         7 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) comprises a main drive ( 4 ), which acts in its longitudinal direction ( 6 ), and at least one manoeuvring drive ( 7 ) which acts in a direction that differs from the longitudinal direction ( 6 ).   
     
     
         8 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein   the manoeuvring drive ( 7 ) is arranged in the region of a bow ( 8 ) of the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″).   
     
     
         9 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) has controllable manipulation devices ( 16 ).   
     
     
         10 . Unmanned underwater vehicle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein   the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) has a receiving device ( 17 ) for receiving, transporting and/or storing objects.   
     
     
         11 . Method for operating an unmanned underwater vehicle, in particular according to  claim 1 , with a control device ( 3 ) controlling the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) according to predefined control information,
 wherein 
 the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) is operated either in an autonomous operating mode or in a remotely controlled operating mode, predetermined internal control information from a memory element ( 13 ) being predefined to the control device ( 3 ) in the autonomous operating mode and external control information being predefined to the control device ( 3 ) via a communication device ( 11 ) of the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) in the remotely controlled operating mode. 
 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein   an operating mode selection means ( 15 ,  15 ′) of the underwater vehicle ( 1 ,  1 ′,  1 ″) sets either the autonomous operating mode or the remotely controlled operating mode and generates a corresponding operating mode selection signal ( 14 ) in order to set the selected operating mode or change the operating modes.   
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein   the operating mode selection means ( 15 ) is manually operated.   
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein   the operating mode selection means ( 15 ′) is remotely controlled in a wireless manner or via a connection cable ( 9 ).   
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein   either the autonomous operating mode or the remotely controlled operating mode is set according to the specification of operating software ( 19 ) associated with the control device ( 3 ) and/or a mission programme.