DIGITAL ENGINEERING - Automated Cavitating Waterjet Cleaning Device

Advanced Technology and Research Corporation (ATR) proposes an autonomous robotic cleaning system for use on docked submarines or surface vessels.  The robotic cleaning is an approximately 250 lb hull-crawling robot with integrated cavitating waterjets and sensors for navigation and cleaning.  It autonomously navigates to an area of biofouling concern, senses the level of biofouling, and then cleans the desired area at an appropriate level of intensity.  The robot adheres to the hull surface through suction, which also acts to clear away the removed particulates during cleaning.  The robot marries existing proven technologies on hull crawling with an innovative solution to sensing and autonomy.  A dockside base station connects an umbilical to the robot and provides the high-power functions of high-pressure water and suction.  The low-power robot is battery operated, communicates to the base station through an ultra-short baseline (USBL) network, and automatically recharges when it is retracted to the base station between cleaning cycles.  It will enable regular cleaning of hull features and reduce the cost, risk, and time associated with current manual cleaning practices.