Development of a Remotely Operated Vehicle with Underwater Cleaning Capabilities Using a Systems Engineering Approach

In recent years, the global wind power generation and marine development industries have seen significant technological advancements. The maintenance and cleaning of offshore facilities are essential tasks. Traditional manual diving operations are not only costly but also entail high risks, making the use of Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs) crucial for assisting in various operations. The objective of this study is to develop a prototype ROV capable of cleaning marine growth from offshore wind turbine foundations. By applying a systems engineering approach to the development process, the study follows rigorous procedures including requirements verification, conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design, manufacturing and assembly, system integration, and testing and validation. This process successfully results in the development of a prototype ROV with underwater cleaning capabilities. During the development process, we divided the work into four main categories: mechanical structure system, Human-Machine Interface (HMI) system, power system, and system integration. The design of the mechanical structure system considers the stability and durability required for underwater operations, ensuring that the ROV can operate continuously in various marine environments. The HMI system focuses on developing an intuitive and easy-to-operate control interface for the operator, enhancing the flexibility and precision of operation. The power system is designed to provide stable power supply in different mission scenarios, ensuring continuous power support for the ROV during long-duration operations. Finally, system integration is responsible for effective synchronization and collaboration between subsystems to achieve the intended goals. This study leverages the advantages of the systems engineering approach in equipment system development projects, successfully developing a prototype of ROV with underwater cleaning capabilities. This provides a more efficient and safer solution for the maintenance of offshore facilities, achieving benefits such as extending the service life of offshore equipment, reducing costs, and protecting the safety of operators. The research results have significant practical value for industrial applications.