Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: An underwater docking system for an autonomous underwater vehicle, the underwater docking system including: an underwater station including a base mount fixed to a seabed and a circular frame member supported by the base mount and parallel to a horizontal plane; and an autonomous underwater vehicle configured to dock with the underwater station while sailing through an upper side of the frame member, wherein: the autonomous underwater vehicle includes an underwater vehicle main body.

Abstract: An approach system for an autonomous underwater vehicle approaching an underwater facility includes: an underwater facility located in water and including a light emitter configured to radially emit light; and an autonomous underwater vehicle including an underwater vehicle main body and a light receiving array provided at the underwater vehicle main body and including a plurality of light receiving elements that are independent from one another.

Abstract: An autonomous underwater vehicle includes: an underwater vehicle main body incorporating a power source; a buoy connected to the underwater vehicle main body through a rope; and an injector configured to, with the underwater vehicle main body floating on a sea surface, inject the buoy from the underwater vehicle main body by compressed gas in an obliquely upward direction.

Abstract: An underwater docking system for an autonomous underwater vehicle, the underwater docking system including: an underwater station including a base mount fixed to a seabed and a circular frame member supported by the base mount and parallel to a horizontal plane; and an autonomous underwater vehicle configured to dock with the underwater station while sailing through an upper side of the frame member, wherein: the autonomous underwater vehicle includes an underwater vehicle main body.

Abstract: A charging system for an autonomous underwater vehicle includes: a sea floating body; a charging station suspended in water from the body through a string-shaped body and located downstream of the sea floating body by receiving a water flow, the station including a noncontact electricity supplying portion located away from the string-shaped body; and an autonomous underwater vehicle coupled to the station that is rotatable about the string-shaped body, the vehicle including a noncontact electricity receiving portion configured to receive electricity supplied from the supplying portion, wherein: the station takes by the water flow such a posture that the noncontact electricity supplying portion is located downstream of the string-shaped body in a water flow direction; and when the vehicle is coupled to the station, the vehicle takes by the water flow such a posture that the receiving portion is located downstream of the string-shaped body in the water flow direction.

Abstract: An underwater actuator includes: a housing to be immersed under water; a cylinder chamber formed in the housing; a piston accommodated in the cylinder chamber so the piston is movable in a sliding manner in the cylinder chamber, the piston dividing the cylinder chamber into a first and a second pressure receiving chambers; a rod extending from the piston to the first pressure receiving chamber side, the rod penetrating the housing; a release chamber formed in the housing, having an internal pressure kept lower than a water pressure outside of the housing; and a switching mechanism including: a first switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the outside of the housing to allow or block communication therebetween; and a second switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the release chamber to allow or block communication therebetween.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising; including a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: In a visible light communication system including a transmission device and a receiving device arranged separately in a vertical direction and provided so as to relatively move in a horizontal direction, which transmits data from the transmission device to the receiving device by optical space transmission using visible light, the transmission device includes a first light emitting part outputting visible light, and the first light emitting part has a light source emitting visible light and a correction part correcting the light radiated from the light source so as to uniform a light intensity distribution on a horizontal plane. Even when the transmission device and the receiving device arranged separately in the vertical direction relatively move in a horizontal direction, data can be stably transmitted and received by the optical space transmission using visible light.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising; including a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus is capable of inspecting a subsea pipeline (inspection object) while cruising. The underwater mobile inspection apparatus includes: a cruising body configured to submerge under water and cruise along the inspection object in such a manner as not to come into contact with the subsea pipeline; a first movable arm provided on the cruising body; an inspection tool unit for use in inspecting the subsea pipeline, the inspection tool unit being provided on the first movable arm; and a controller configured to, when the cruising body cruises along the subsea pipeline in such a manner as not to come into contact with the subsea pipeline, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the subsea pipeline becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: In a visible light communication system including a transmission device and a receiving device arranged separately in a vertical direction and provided so as to relatively move in a horizontal direction, which transmits data from the transmission device to the receiving device by optical space transmission using visible light, the transmission device includes a first light emitting part outputting visible light, and the first light emitting part has a light source emitting visible light and a correction part correcting the light radiated from the light source so as to uniform a light intensity distribution on a horizontal plane. Even when the transmission device and the receiving device arranged separately in the vertical direction relatively move in a horizontal direction, data can be stably transmitted and received by the optical space transmission using visible light.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus is capable of inspecting a subsea pipeline (inspection object) while cruising. The underwater mobile inspection apparatus includes: a cruising body configured to submerge under water and cruise along the inspection object in such a manner as not to come into contact with the subsea pipeline; a first movable arm provided on the cruising body; an inspection tool unit for use in inspecting the subsea pipeline, the inspection tool unit being provided on the first movable arm; and a controller configured to, when the cruising body cruises along the subsea pipeline in such a manner as not to come into contact with the subsea pipeline, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the subsea pipeline becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.