Geometrical aspects of a sonar-based navigation system for underwater vehicles

A novel self-contained navigation system has been devised for underwater vehicles operating in and around offshore installations. This system matches data from a sector-scanning sonar device to a computer model of the installation. The paper begins by highlighting the existing approaches to subsea navigation before outlining the main features of the proposed system. It then concentrates on a key component of this system which is a method for calculating the position and heading of an underwater vehicle navigating in the vincinity of tubular steel structures. An iterative solution method is presented which incorporates six degree of freedom vehicle motions and this is verified in a series of laboratory experiments with various arrangements of structural members and using a commercial sonar device. The key features, applications and performance of this method are discussed. The main conclusion is that the proposed method for calculating the position and heading of an underwater vehicle contributes towards achieving an accurate and reliable subsea navigation capability.     

A hierarchical real-time control architecture for a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle

This paper describes a real-time control architecture for Dual Use Semi-Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (DUSAUV), which has been developed at Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) for being a test-bed of development of underwater navigation and manipulator technologies. DUSAUV has three built-in computers, seven thrusters for six DOF motion control, one 4-function electric manipulator, one ballasting motor, built-in power source, and various sensors. A supervisor control system with GUI and a multi-purpose joystick is mounted on the surface vessel and communicates with vehicle through a fiber optic link. Furthermore, QNX, one of real-time operating system, is ported on the built-in control and navigation computers for real-time control purpose, while Microsoft OS product is ported in the supervisor computer for GUI programming convenience. A hierarchical control architecture, which consists of application layer, real-time layer and physical layer, has been developed for efficient control system of above complex underwater robotic system. The experimental results with implementation of the layered control architecture for various motion control of DUSAUV in an ocean engineering basin of KRISO is also presented.     

Mine avoidance techniques for underwater vehicles

It is shown that by implementing certain mine avoidance techniques, an underwater vehicle equipped with an obstacle avoidance sonar (OAS) and a navigation system can safely navigate an unknown minefield. The mine avoidance techniques take into account the physical limitations of the sonar and the navigation system, the maneuverability constraints on the underwater vehicle, and the required safe standoff distance from all mines. Extensive computer simulations have verified the mine avoidance capability in more than 50 different minefields. In all 50 simulations the vehicle reached a predetermined end point and maintained at least the specified, minimum safe standoff distance from each mine. The simulation accurately models the major difficulties associated with the sonar, the navigation system, and the vehicle dynamics. The sonar model includes surface, bottom, and volume reverberation; thermal, ambient, and flow noises; actual receiver and projector beam patterns; and false alarms and missed detections. The navigation system model contains the effects of biases, random noises, and scale factor errors. The vehicle dynamic model simulates angular velocities and accelerations associated with underwater vehicles     

Three-dimensional visualization of mission planning and control forthe NPS autonomous underwater vehicle

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is constructing a small autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with an onboard mission control computer. The mission controller software for this vehicle is a knowledge-based artificial intelligence (AI) system requiring thorough analysis and testing before the AUV is operational. The manner in which rapid prototyping of this software has been demonstrated by developing a controller code on a LISP machine and using an Ethernet link with a graphics workstation to simulate the controller's environment is discussed. The development of a testing simulator using a knowledge engineering environment (KEE) expert system shell that examines AUV controller subsystems and vehicle models before integrating them with the full AUV for its test environment missions is discussed. This AUV simulator utilizes an interactive mission planning control console and is fully autonomous once initial parameters are selected     

智能潜器控制系统的实航验证

本文介绍了某智能潜器的系统概要及其使命规划系统和使命控制系统的结构,并通过对其实航试验结果的分析,证明了本系统能够实现自主导航、自主避障等功能。特别是,本系统对潜器的位置和艏向具有优良的控制特性,达到了预定的研究目标。     

用于水下潜器的惯性导航系统安装和初始对准技术

水下潜器通常采用捷联惯性导航和多普勒计程仪组合导航系统。为提高惯性导航系统的导航精度,保障水下潜器顺利作业,文章以高性能惯导系统PHINS为例,介绍其安装和初始对准技术。PHINS在安装时须计算其与船体的偏差以及与船体和外部传感器的力臂,尤其与多普勒计程仪组合时应执行传感器自动对准程序;PHINS的初始对准是其精确导航的前提,可在海上或静态时进行;惯导系统的安装误差和初始对准精度对于其导航精度具有决定性的影响。     

Testing and evaluation of an integrated GPS/INS system for smallAUV navigation

A Small Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Navigation System (SANS) is being developed at the Naval Postgraduate School. The SANS is an integrated Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) navigation system composed of low-cost and small-size components. It is designed to demonstrate the feasibility of using a low-cost strap-down inertial measurement unit (IMU) to navigate between intermittent GPS fixes. The present hardware consists of a GPS/DGPS receiver, IMU, compass, water speed sensor, water depth sensor, and a data processing computer. The software is based on a 12-state complementary filter that combines measurement data from all sensors to derive a vehicle position/orientation estimate. This paper describes hardware and software design and testing results of the SANS. It is shown that results from tilt table testing and bench testing provide an effective means for tuning filter gains. Ground vehicle testing verifies the overall functioning of the SANS and exhibits an encouraging degree of accuracy     

基于可重置联邦滤波器的水下运载体导航定位方法

单一导航系统无法满足水下运载体高精度、高可靠性的导航需求,文中根据常用水下导航系统的特点,提出基于可重置联邦滤波器的水下运载体导航定位方案,设计了以惯导系统(INS)为主参考系统,声学定位系统/深度计、多普勒计程仪(DVL)、罗经为子参考系统的联邦滤波器,并进行了仿真研究。结果表明文中设计的滤波器能有效融合各个传感器的导航信息,实现水下运载体高精度导航定位,并具有一定容错性。     

基于蚁群算法的水下传感网网络生存期延长策略研究

随着海洋强国战略的推进和实施,水下传感器网络广泛应用于海洋资源探测、污染监测、辅助导航和水下军事侦察等领域,具有十分重要的意义。由于水下传感器所携电池充电或更换困难,如何减小传输能耗、在传感器能量受限的情况下提升网络生存期是亟须解决的关键问题之一。据此,提出了一种动态蚁群路由算法,考虑了每次传输后的节点剩余能量,作为路径优化的条件之一,基于蚁群算法在每次传输中选择最优路径,并在每次传输完成后更新路由表,让更多的节点参与信息传输,以提高节点的利用率。仿真结果表明：动态蚁群路由算法同时兼顾了能耗平衡和最小传输能耗,大大提高了网络生存期。分析结果对水下传感器网络的路由协议设计有一定的参考意义。     

Real-time path planning and obstacle avoidance for RAIS: anautonomous underwater vehicle

This paper describes a navigation and guidance system (NGS) with real-time path planning and obstacle avoidance capabilities that has been developed for the autonomous underwater vehicle RAIS. The vehicle is designed to accomplish two missions: pre-deployment survey of sea bottom, and visual inspection of pipelines. In the first mission, the NGS must be able to track a predefined path while avoiding the unplanned occurrence of obstacles. In the second mission, the NGS must track a pipeline by locally reconstructing its location from visual information; also in this case, the unplanned occurrence of obstacles must be handled. Furthermore, the NGS must properly take into account the presence of ocean current and some drastic constraints due to sensor and actuator characteristics. Numerical and hardware-in-the-loop simulations have been developed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed NGS     

矩阵体积法原理及其在水下差分GPS定位中的应用

给出了矩阵体积法的原理和方法,并使用矩阵体积法研究了水下差分GPS定位中设计矩阵的态性,导出了星形空间网中设计矩阵的体积与观测向量高度角参数的函数关系式,为研究星形空间网图形强度提供了数学模型。     

基于GPS的水下导航算法误差仿真研究

首先介绍了水下导航算法,采用GPS和水下参量测算相结合的方案,即当运行器在水下运行时,利用电子罗盘测量运行器的相对航向,水流传感器测算运行器的相对速度大小,利用学习阶段计算出海水流速,在水下运行器潜行时进行船位推算导航,用GPS精准的定位信号进行导航误差的校正。此算法精度的高低很大程度上取决于用来进行水下参量测算的传感器和用来方位校准的GPS。文中从各个传感器的误差着手,通过模拟仿真详细分析了电子罗盘、水流传感器和GPS的误差对导航精度的影响,对工程应用具有实际的指导意义。     

Analysis on the controlled nonlinear motion of a test bed AUV–SNUUV I

This paper describes the estimation of hydrodynamic coefficients and the control algorithm based on a nonlinear mathematical modeling for a test bed autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) named by SNUUV I (Seoul National University Underwater Vehicle I).A six degree of freedom mathematical model for SNUUV I is derived with linear and nonlinear hydrodynamic coefficients, which are estimated with the help of a potential code and also the system identification using multi-variable regression.A navigation algorithm is developed using three ranging sonars, pressure sensor and two inclinometers keeping towing tank applications in mind. Based on the mathematical model, a simulation program using a model-based control algorithm is designed for heading control and wall following control of SNUUV I.It is demonstrated numerically that the navigation system together with controller guides the vehicle to follow the desired heading and path with a sufficient accuracy. Therefore the model-based control algorithm can be designed efficiently using the system identification method based on vehicle motion experiments with the appropriate navigation system.     

Underwater Terrain Positioning Method Based on Least Squares Estimation for AUV

To achieve accurate positioning of autonomous underwater vehicles, an appropriate underwater terrain database storage format for underwater terrain-matching positioning is established using multi-beam data as underwater terrainmatching data. An underwater terrain interpolation error compensation method based on fractional Brownian motion is proposed for defects of normal terrain interpolation, and an underwater terrain-matching positioning method based on least squares estimation(LSE) is proposed for correlation analysis of topographic features. The Fisher method is introduced as a secondary criterion for pseudo localization appearing in a topographic features flat area, effectively reducing the impact of pseudo positioning points on matching accuracy and improving the positioning accuracy of terrain flat areas. Simulation experiments based on electronic chart and multi-beam sea trial data show that drift errors of an inertial navigation system can be corrected effectively using the proposed method. The positioning accuracy and practicality are high, satisfying the requirement of underwater accurate positioning.     

Underwater Terrain Positioning Method Based on Least Squares Estimation for AUV

To achieve accurate positioning of autonomous underwater vehicles, an appropriate underwater terrain database storage format for underwater terrain-matching positioning is established using multi-beam data as underwater terrain-matching data. An underwater terrain interpolation error compensation method based on fractional Brownian motion is proposed for defects of normal terrain interpolation, and an underwater terrain-matching positioning method based on least squares estimation (LSE) is proposed for correlation analysis of topographic features. The Fisher method is introduced as a secondary criterion for pseudo localization appearing in a topographic features flat area, effectively reducing the impact of pseudo positioning points on matching accuracy and improving the positioning accuracy of terrain flat areas. Simulation experiments based on electronic chart and multi-beam sea trial data show that drift errors of an inertial navigation system can be corrected effectively using the proposed method. The positioning accuracy and practicality are high, satisfying the requirement of underwater accurate positioning.     

Modeling and simulation of autonomous underwater vehicles: design and implementation

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have many scientific, military, and commercial applications because of their potential capabilities and significant cost-performance improvements over traditional means for performing search and survey. The development of a reliable sampling platform requires a thorough system design and many costly at-sea trials during which systems specifications can be validated. Modeling and simulation provides a cost-effective measure to carry out preliminary component, system (hardware and software), and mission testing and verification, thereby reducing the number of potential failures in at-sea trials. An accurate simulation can help engineers to find hidden errors in the AUV embedded software and gain insights into the AUV operations and dynamics. This paper reviews our research work on real-time physics-based modeling and simulation for our AUVs. The modeling component includes vehicle dynamics, environment and sensor characteristics. The simulation component consists of stand-alone versus hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) implementation, for both single as well as multiple vehicles. In particular, implementation issues with regard to multitasking system resources will be addressed. The main contribution of this paper is to present the rationale for our simulation architecture and the lessons learned.     

基于单水声信标距离量测的匹配定位方法

水声通信和测距能力是实现水下航行器准确定位的重要技术手段。当前基于水声定位的方法主要有利用测距和测向功能的水声定位技术以及水声测距辅助导航技术,二者的系统物理复杂度都比较高。本文提出了一种基于单水声信标距离量测的匹配定位方法,航行器在水声信标测距覆盖范围内,利用航行过程中多次测距信息构建测距圆序列形成位置约束,基于航位推算导航信息,将航行器在连续测距时间段内的相对航迹在圆序列上进行最优匹配,从而获得位置估计,通过对测距误差进行补偿可进一步提升定位精度。本方法所需物理系统结构复杂度低、可操作性强,仿真实验表明,该方法可以独立实现较高精度的定位。     

顾及声速误差的USBL/SINS紧组合导航算法研究

采用水下超短基线定位系统和捷联惯导系统组合对水下潜器进行导航时,未知的声速误差会严重影响组合导航的精度.顾及超短基线定位系统的噪声水平、阵列上接收单元的误差特性以及和捷联惯导系统在导航性能的互补性,基于平面波近似原理,建立了SINS/USBL紧组合系统的状态方程和量测方程,并对未改正的声速误差在线估计,提出一种超短基线...     

Guidance and control architecture for the EAVE vehicle

For the past several years the Marine Systems Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) has directed its efforts towards the development of the technologies required for unmanned untethered submersible vehicles. The current focus of those efforts is to develop a system architecture that will allow the implementation of a knowledge-based guidance and control system. The goal of this effort is to implement a simple system which has addressed the basic problems and will allow for expansion as insight is gained from field testing the concepts using the Experimental Autonomous Vehicle (EAVE) system at MSEL. This paper considers those factors that have driven the development of an architecture which is being implemented in the EAVE vehicle system. Its intent is to focus on those issues that have guided the application of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to meet the requirements of the system and its mission. The architecture being implemented is outlined and some of its features detailed.     

基于倒置声学基阵的INSUSBL组合导航算法研究

文中关注水下潜航器导航定位时,电磁波传播途径中能量衰减、惯导系统长航时积累误差以及提高水下潜航器定位精度等问题。基于倒置的超短基线声学基阵,分析声波往返传播时间(RTT)、平面波近似方法和USBL导航解算方法及其坐标转换过程,结合INS误差方程,建立INS/USBL松组合模型。为进一步提高系统精度、动态性能和抗干扰性,考察USBL的原始斜距、斜距差以及声学基阵的空间分布信息,提出基于USBL原始输出信息的INS/USBL紧耦合组合导航方法。通过MATLAB仿真对导航算法进行验证,结果表明两种算法能充分抑制纯惯导误差随时间积累问题,且有效地估计出姿态、速度和位置误差角;其中紧耦合方法状态估计误差最小,导航参数精度相对松组合提高30%以上,对于提高水下载体导航定位精度、海洋探测具有重大意义。