CAS benthic landers (BL)s are a series of very little known unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV)s developed by Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in the People's Republic of China (PRC). As of the early 2020s, a total of five have been identified. [1] [2] [3]
In addition to the usual research tasks, Canghai (沧海, meaning Sea) BL is designed to incorporate photography and filming capability, [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] but more importantly, it is designed to transmit the image/data/video footage back to the mothership or shore-based command center (via satellite) in real time, [4] [5] [6] [7] with the rate of data transmission via fiber-optic cable is faster than 5G, reaching 15G/second. [4] To better perform filming and photography missions, Canghai BL is designed with a special feature in that it incorporates an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) Lingyun (凌云, meaning Reaching the Cloud) inside, and when filming, Lingyun UUV would be released from Canghai to work in conjunction with the latter to achieve better result. [4] [5] [7] [8] The cameras, lights, and fiber-optic network of Canghai and Lingyu are produced by CAS Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (中国科学院西安光学精密机械研究所). [6]
One of the shortcomings of benthic landers is that due to the tremendous high pressure at the depth, samples collected by BLs would lose their original characteristics and properties once brought to the surface. [11] Fenghuang (凤凰, meaning phoenix) BL is designed to carry out some scientific experiments directly at the depth or on the seafloor, where the samples are collected, without having them being brought up to the surface, [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] so that their original characteristics and properties would not be lost due to the drastic change of depth and associated pressure, resulting in these experiments yielding more accurate results. The general designer of Fenghuang is Mr. Li Jun (李俊), and Fenghuang entered service in 2018 after half a decade of development. [11] [13] [14]
Haijiao (海角, meaning Cape) BL is jointly developed by Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA) of CAS and Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) of CAS. [16] Originally designated as Deep Trench 01 (深渊 01), it was subsequently renamed as Cape.[ citation needed ] In addition to other usual research tasks, Haijiao is tailored to hunt and collect animals on seabed. [16] [17] [18] [19] Originally designed to operate at a depth of 3,000 meter, it was subsequently upgraded to operate to a depth of 7,000 meter. [16] Specification: [16]
Tianya (天涯, meaning Edge of the Heaven) BL is also jointly developed by SIA of CAS and IDSSE of CAS. [16] Originally designated as Deep Trench 02 (深渊 02), it was subsequently renamed as Edge of the Heaven.[ citation needed ] Originally designed to operate to a depth of 7,000 meters, [16] [11] [13] [14] the design was so successful that it was decided to expand the depth all the way out to 10,000 meter after completing its very first 7,000 meter dive out at sea in June 2016, and after three more attempts on the same trials for 7,000 meter dive that eventually surpassed 8,000 meters, Tianya finally succeeded in diving to 10,000 meters, and it has since been repeatedly deployed to that depth since. [11] [13] [14] [20] In addition to other usual research tasks, Tianya is tailored to collect geological samples from the sea bed. [16] [12] [13] [14] [17] [18] [19] Specification: [16]
Waquan (万泉, meaning Ten Thousand Springs) BL also capable of operating to a depth equal to that of Tianya, and in addition to usual research tasks, it is also mainly designed to carry various scientific equipment to that depth, and test them out to validate their designs. [11] [13] Wanquan BL is also tasked to perform seismological surveys on sea floor. [11] [12] [13] [14] [17] [18] [19] Wanquan BL has successfully test out solid state lithium battery indigenously developed by China to a depth of more than 10,000 meters, making China the second country in the world (after Japan) able to produce solid state lithium battery that can withstand pressure of 100 megapascal. [21] The pressure hull of Wanquan BL is constructed of ceramic material, the first of its kind in China. [20] Specification: [11] [13] [14]
The Challenger Deep is the deepest known point of the seabed of Earth, with a depth of 10,902–10,929 m (35,768–35,856 ft) by direct measurement from deep-diving submersibles, remotely operated underwater vehicles and benthic landers, and (sometimes) slightly more by sonar bathymetry.
Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), sometimes known as underwater drones, are submersible vehicles that can operate underwater without a human occupant. These vehicles may be divided into two categories: remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROUVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). ROUVs are remotely controlled by a human operator. AUVs are automated and operate independently of direct human input.
The Chinese 8A4 class ROUV is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROUV) used to perform various underwater tasks, ranging from oil platform service to salvage and rescue missions. The 8A4 is a member of a series of related ROUVs developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA) in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The predecessor to the 8A4 was the RECON-IV, an improved version of the American RECON-III. The 8A4 itself is an upgraded version of the American AMETEK 2006, and the 7B8 is an improved version of the 8A4.
Sea Dragon-class remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROUVs) are a class of Chinese remotely operated vehicle (ROV) used to perform various underwater tasks such as oil platform service, salvage, and rescue missions. Following the successful development of the original Sea Dragon (海龙), a series of ROUVs based on it have been developed. The original model had a diving capability up to 3,500 meters, but subsequent models were designed to meet a variety of operating conditions.
Explorer autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is a Chinese AUV developed in the People's Republic of China (PRC),first entering service in November 1994. It should not be confused with another two Anglo-American AUVs that share the same name: the American Autonomous Benthic Explorer AUV (ABE) built by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the British Columbia-based International Submarine Engineeringbuilt Canadian Explorer AUV, which is based on its earlier ARCS AUV.Many Chinese AUVs later developed, such as Wukong, WZODA, CR series, Exploration series, Micro Dragon series, Sea Whale series, Submerged Dragon series AUVs, are all based on experienced gained from Explorer AUV.
SJT-class ROUVs are a series of Chinese remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROUVs) jointly developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation of the Chinese Academy of Science and the Institute of Underwater Engineering of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SHJTU). The general designer of the SJT-class of ROUVs is Zhu Jimao (朱继懋), a professor at SHJTU, who also was the general designer of the earlier Type 7103 DSRV. Many more ROUVs have been developed after the SJT series, based on experience gained from this series.
ABISMO is a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) built by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) for exploration of the deep sea. It is the only remaining ROV rated to 11,000-meters, ABISMO is intended to be the permanent replacement for Kaikō, a ROV that was lost at sea in 2003.
Jiaolong is a Chinese crewed deep-sea research submersible that can dive to a depth of over 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). It has the second-greatest depth range of any crewed research vehicle of the Chinese Navy; the only crewed expeditions to have gone deeper were the dives of the Trieste bathyscaphe in 1960, Archimède in 1962, Deepsea Challenger in 2012, and DSV Limiting Factor in 2019.
Deepsea Challenger is a 7.3-metre (24 ft) deep-diving submersible designed to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep, the deepest-known point on Earth. On 26 March 2012, Canadian film director James Cameron piloted the craft to accomplish this goal in the second crewed dive reaching the Challenger Deep. Built in Sydney, Australia, by the research and design company Acheron Project Pty Ltd, Deepsea Challenger includes scientific sampling equipment and high-definition 3-D cameras; it reached the ocean's deepest point after two hours and 36 minutes of descent from the surface.
Type 904 dive tender is a class of Chinese dive tender designed the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and the late models Type 904I and Type 904II have received the NATO reporting name Yanqian,(研潜 in Chinese), meaning Research Diving. In addition to perform diving support missions, Type 904 I and II ships are also general purpose research vessels (AGE)frequently tasked to perform various scientific research works.
Chinese oceanographic research ship Zhang Jian is a Chinese research ship designed by Shanghai Ocean University and built by the civilian owned Zhejiang TianShi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (浙江天时造船有限公司) in Wenling, instead of government-owned enterprise, as in most cases of the ships in Chinese service.
The Rainbowfish class bathyscaphe is a Chinese deep submergence vehicle under development in 2015 and originally scheduled to enter service in 2019, but has since been postponed after 2020.
Deep Sea Warrior bathyscaphe is a type of very little known deep-submergence vehicle built in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Deep Sea Warrier was handed over from its builder China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation to its customer at the end of 2016, but actual deep diving did not begun until end of the following year due to preparation needed, because it was such as new product that thorough preparation was needed to ensure its safe operation, and bathyscaphye is capable of diving to a depth of 4500 meters.
Striver bathyscaphe is a type of deep-submergence vehicle built in the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was built by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). It can accommodate three crew members,and is designed to reach depths of more than 10,000 meters. Striver is equipped with two mechanical arms, seven underwater cameras, seven sonars, hydraulic drills, and other scientific devices.
CSSC unmanned vehicles (UUV)s are uncrewed vehicles developed in the People's Republic of China (PRC) by China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), most of which are in service with various Chinese governmental agencies/departments, and government-owned enterprises.
Hadal 1 ARV is a type of very little known unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) built in the People's Republic of China (PRC). ARV stands for Autonomous Remotely-controlled Vehicle, an idea pioneered in China by Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and SIA is also the developer of Hadal 1 ARV, and its predecessor Hadal ARV, as well as Arctic ARV, the predecessor of Hadal ARV. Hadal 1 and its predecessor Hadal, and earlier Arctic series ARVs are the Chinese counterparts of Nereus hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), because just like Nereus hybrid UUV, these ARVs can operate both as a AUV or a ROUV. The general designer of Hadal 1 ARV is Mr. Tang Yuan-Gui (唐元贵).
Hadal ARV is a type of very little known unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) built in the People's Republic of China (PRC). ARV stands for Autonomous Remotely-controlled Vehicle, an idea pioneered in China by Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA) of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and SIA is also the developer of Hadal ARV and its predecessor Arctic ARV, as well as Hadal 1 ARV, the successor of Hadal ARV. Hadal and its predecessor Arctic series ARVs are the Chinese counterparts of Nereus hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle, because just like Nereus hybrid UUV, these ARVs can operate both as an AUV or a ROUV.
Discovery remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROUV) is a type of very little known unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) originally built in Great Britain by British firm Specialist Machine Development (SMD) Limited for the People's Republic of China (PRC). and the British firm was later purchased by CSR Corporation Limited in April 2015.
XTDT unmanned vehicles are uncrewed vehicles developed in the People's Republic of China (PRC) by Xi'an Tianhe Defense Technology Co. Ltd., most of which are in service with various Chinese governmental agencies/departments, and government-owned enterprises, as well as Chinese military.
PWT unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV)s are uncrewed vehicles developed in the People's Republic of China (PRC) by PWT in Wuhan, most of which are in service with various Chinese governmental agencies/departments, and government-owned enterprises.