Abstract: A camera monitors positions on an external object having a beacon (1(i), i=1, 2, . . . , I; 130; 430) attached to it. The apparatus has at least one image sensor (120; 321, 322; 420; 520), an imaging optical element (101) for projecting light on the image sensor (120), and a processing unit (9). The imaging optical element (101) may be non-refractive and receives a light beam (5(i); 131) transmitted from the beacon (1(i); 130; 430) and transfers the light beam (5(i); 131) to the image sensor (120; 321, 322; 420; 520). The image sensor (120; 321, 322; 420; 520) forms image data based on the received light beam (5(i); 131) and background light. The processing unit (9) processes the image data such that it filters image data components relating to the background light and renders image data components relating to the light beam.

Abstract: A pin point corer for collecting samples from a seabed of a sea, having a control unit to be positioned on a vessel or similar remote position, a top lift unit, which can be attached to a lifting and lowering unit of a vessel via an cable, such that it can be lifted and lowered relative to the seabed, a corer unit, releasable attached to the top lift unit by a fixation unit and arranged for being at least partly driven into layers of the seabed to collect the samples from there, e.g. when released from the top lift unit, wherein the top lift unit comprises a positioning unit bi-directionally communicating with the control unit for controlling the position of the corer unit. The invention also relates to a respective system and a method for collecting samples by use of such a pin point corer.

Abstract: A system is provided, including a remotely operated machine having: a coiled rod with a probe to be penetrated into subsurface by uncoiling the rod; a tracking unit determining a position of the machine; and adjustable support legs for stabilizing and levelling the machine; a remote workstation having a user interface for data input and output; a tracking control unit for tracking movement of the machine based on its position; a levelling control unit for controlling the support legs; and a deployment control unit for controlling uncoiling of the rod and penetration of the probe into the subsurface; the tracking control unit, levelling control unit and deployment control unit configured to communicate with the remote workstation allowing operation of these units to be monitored, initiated and/or controlled via the user interface; and the tracking control unit, levelling control unit, and deployment control unit configured to transmit a signal indicating successful execution of its operation.

Abstract: A CPT probe (200) having a cone tip (252) can be inserted into one or more soil layers (110, 112, 114) by a hammer action. The CPT probe (200) has a casing (214) with an internal hammer blow mechanism (225) inside said casing (214) which applies a hammering force on said cone tip (252). The internal hammer blow mechanism is driven by a motor unit (118) which is located either inside the casing (214) or external to the casing (214).

Abstract: A communication unit (20) configured for wireless optical communication underwater, and including a communication transceiver (24), a housing (22), an adjustment mechanism (28), and a processor (40). The transceiver is accommodated in the housing, and includes a signal detector configured to receive an optical communication signal (50) approaching the unit within a main detection lobe centred on a receiver directivity axis (Ar), and/or includes a signal generator configured to emit an optical communication signal (52) via a main emission lobe centred on a transmitter directivity axis (At). The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust orientation(s) of the receiver and/or transmitter directivity axes relative to the housing. The processor is configured to determine a directional coordinate (?i, ?i) for an approaching light signal (50, 54), and to control the adjustment mechanism to automatically adjust and align the orientation of the directivity axes with the determined directional coordinate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dissemination of a timescale signal (T2) from at least one server site to at least one client site is provided.

Abstract: A subsea vertical drilling machine is disclosed, having: a drill assembly formed by: a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends; and a drilling machine body, including a drilling head, coupled to the first end of the riser pipe; and a vertical feed system configured for advancing the drill assembly in a vertical direction. The riser pipe is provided with at least one rack extending along at least a part of the length of the riser pipe, and the vertical feed system comprises a motor coupled to a pinion, the pinion arranged for engaging with the rack for advancing the drill assembly.

Abstract: A system for monitoring survey reflectors arranged at a plurality of locations on an object, having: a camera, including: one or more light sources arranged to illuminate a field in space corresponding to at least 10% of a field of view of the camera, preferably the whole field of view; an image sensor receiving light beams from reflections of the beam by the survey reflectors and providing data; a body with an optical entry system, the image sensor located on a first side and the light source on a second side of the body; and a processing unit processing the data. The processing unit is configured to determine locations of the survey reflectors from the image sensor data and detect movement of the survey reflectors based on a comparison of the determined locations with previously determined locations.

Abstract: A method and system for locating a high-intensity target light source (26) from an elevated observation location (Po), for instance in an aircraft. The target light source is located at/near an earth surface portion (30) and amongst reference light sources (16, 24, 25) arranged along the surface portion. This target light source emits light (28) with a peak radiant intensity that exceeds the intensity of the reference light sources by at least one order of magnitude. The method includes: acquiring, with an image recording device located at the observation location, images of the light and light emitted the reference light sources; comparing the images and a digital ground map (50) that includes representations of the surface portion and of structures (20, 22) associated with the reference light sources, and estimating a location (Pt) of the target light source relative to the reference light sources, based on the comparison.

Abstract: A communication unit (20) configured for wireless optical communication underwater, and including a communication transceiver (24), a housing (22), an adjustment mechanism (28), and a processor (40). The transceiver is accommodated in the housing, and includes a signal detector configured to receive an optical communication signal (50) approaching the unit within a main detection lobe centred on a receiver directivity axis (Ar), and/or includes a signal generator configured to emit an optical communication signal (52) via a main emission lobe centred on a transmitter directivity axis (At). The adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust orientation(s) of the receiver and/or transmitter directivity axes relative to the housing. The processor is configured to determine a directional coordinate (?i, ?i) for an approaching light signal (50, 54), and to control the adjustment mechanism to automatically adjust and align the orientation of the directivity axes with the determined directional coordinate.

Abstract: A subsea vertical drilling machine is disclosed, having: a drill assembly formed by: a riser pipe having a first end, a second end, and a length extending between the first and second ends; and a drilling machine body, including a drilling head, coupled to the first end of the riser pipe; and a vertical feed system configured for advancing the drill assembly in a vertical direction. The riser pipe is provided with at least one rack extending along at least a part of the length of the riser pipe, and the vertical feed system comprises a motor coupled to a pinion, the pinion arranged for engaging with the rack for advancing the drill assembly.

Abstract: An electric field gradient sensor is presented, having a sensor body having an outer surface; and a plurality of electrodes distributed over the outer surface, each electrode having an electrode surface facing outward from the surface. The plurality of electrodes are arranged forming a plurality of electrode pairs, each electrode pair formed by a first electrode and a second electrode located on opposite sides of the sensor body. This sensor enables three-dimensional measurements of the electric field gradient along structures located in an electrically conductive medium, such as subsea structures, for example for monitoring the cathodic protection of such structure.

Abstract: A interference detection device (22) perform the following actions: receiving individual position data from mobile terminals (4(j)) which individual position data indicates an area (12(j)) in which individual ones of the mobile terminals (4(j)) are located based on positioning signals received by the mobile terminals (4(j)); identifying if individual position data may have been affected by one or more interfering signals transmitted by interfering device (14(m)) and interfering with the positioning signals; (A) identifying if a number of mobile terminals (4v(j)) in a first area (18) is higher than a maximum threshold number, and, if so, determining that individual position data of the number of mobile terminals (4v(j)) may have been affected by the interfering signals; or (B) identifying if a number of the mobile terminals (4(j)) in a second area (36) is lower than a minimum threshold number; and, if so, determining that individual position data of the number of mobile terminals (4(j)) may have been affect

Abstract: A receiver (30) for providing an activation signal (54) to transition a device from a dormant state to an operative state. The receiver includes a sensor (32), a super regenerative oscillator, SRO, circuit (34), and a processing device (36, 38). The sensor is one of an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, and a magnetic field sensor, and generates detector signals (40) based on wireless signals (28) received from an external source (18). The SRO circuit is electrically coupled to the sensor to receive the detector signals, and electrically oscillates with a constant SRO frequency and with a SRO amplitude (As) that changes when a carrier frequency of the detector signal substantially matches the SRO frequency. The processing device monitors the SRO amplitude in time, and generates the activation signal when a temporal characteristic (Sc) of the monitored SRO amplitude matches a predetermined reference pattern (52).

Abstract: An underwater wireless optical communication, UWOC, unit (30) for underwater deployment on a submerged earth layer (12) or structure (14, 16). The UWOC unit is configured for wireless optical communication in an underwater environment, and comprises an optical transmitter (36), an anidolic optical receiver (38), and a processor (44). The optical transmitter is configured to transmit data by emitting an optical signal (80) into the surroundings. The optical receiver includes an optical detector (62), which is omnidirectionally sensitive and configured to receive further optical signals approaching substantially along an azimuthal plane orthogonal to a nominal axis (A) through the UWOC unit. The processor is coupled to the optical receiver, and configured to process received further optical signals.

Abstract: A pin point corer for collecting samples from a seabed of a sea, having a control unit to be positioned on a vessel or similar remote position, a top lift unit, which can be attached to a lifting and lowering unit of a vessel via an cable, such that it can be lifted and lowered relative to the seabed, a corer unit, releasable attached to the top lift unit by a fixation unit and arranged for being at least partly driven into layers of the seabed to collect the samples from there, e.g. when released from the top lift unit, wherein the top lift unit comprises a positioning unit bi-directionally communicating with the control unit for controlling the position of the corer unit. The invention also relates to a respective system and a method for collecting samples by use of such a pin point corer.

Abstract: Method for determining a spatial property of a submerged object in a 3D-space, using an underwater moveable platform, that is provided with a camera and with a position and orientation measurement system configured to output a position and orientation of the camera. The method includes receiving user input for visually fitting a bounding volume to the object, and determining the spatial property of the object based on a corresponding spatial property of a bounding volume once the user is satisfied that the bounding volume sufficiently fits the object. The method provides an interactive manner of visually fitting the bounding volume to the object, based on images of the object taken at different positions and/or orientations of the camera relative to the object, as well as on a representation of a position and orientation of the camera in the 3D space at the time each image was captured.

Abstract: A method and sensor system for monitoring in time a geometric property of a gasket (32, 34) that sealingly interconnects two structural members (20, 21) of a subterraneous or immersed tunnel (10). The system includes a sensor (42) for measuring position indications for surface portions (48) of the gasket relative to a reference (26, 27, 47) associated with one or both structural members, and a processor (44) that is coupled with the sensor to receive the position indications. The processor is configured to derive indications of displacement (?Y) for each of the gasket surface portions based on the measured indications of position, to compare the indications of displacement for each of the gasket surface portions with at least one threshold value (Ty), and to generate a warning message for an operator if at least one of the indications of displacement transgresses the at least one threshold value.

Abstract: An observation unit (30) for underwater deployment on/in a submerged earth layer (12) or structure. The unit comprises a housing (32), a light source (36), an underwater imaging device (40), a processor device (44), and a communication device (35). The housing supports the underwater observation unit relative to the submerged layer or structure. The light source is fixed to the housing, and configured to emit light into the unit's surroundings. The imaging device is attached to the housing, and configured to acquire image data of a second light source located within a FOV of the camera that covers the surroundings of the unit. The processor device is configured to determine positional data of the second light source relative to the imaging device, from the image data. The communication device is configured to transmit the positional data to another underwater observation unit, an underwater vehicle, or an underwater processing station.

Abstract: A camera monitors positions on an external object having a beacon (1(i), i=1, 2, . . . , I; 130; 430) attached to it. The apparatus has at least one image sensor (120; 321, 322; 420; 520), an imaging optical element (101) for projecting light on the image sensor (120), and a processing unit (9). The imaging optical element (101) may be non-refractive and receives a light beam (5(i); 131) transmitted from the beacon (1(i); 130; 430) and transfers the light beam (5(i); 131) to the image sensor (120; 321, 322; 420; 520). The image sensor (120; 321, 322; 420; 520) forms image data based on the received light beam (5(i); 131) and background light. The processing unit (9) processes the image data such that it filters image data components relating to the background light and renders image data components relating to the light beam.