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New Concepts of Surveillance Systems Based on ROVs, High Resolution Sensors, and Disposal Means Inside Harbors
Encountering mines or explosive cases inside harbors is considered a new kind of threat by modern navies. The terrorist act consisting of dropping a mine inside a dock or near a berth is made easy by the capacity to get access from the land. Moreover, when laying on the ground, the explosive weapon will benefit from a natural high density of non-mine contacts due to existing garbage and man-made objects (linked to harbor activity over time).
Two examples of systems of this kind which have been tested in France are a medium range shallow-water surveillance system based on a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and a side-looking sonar, while the second is a remote camera used for mine disposal and hull inspection.
Over the past four years, considerable effort has been made all over the world on concept studies and system developments using autonomous marine robotics.
The versatility of ROV and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) based concepts have demonstrated, but their considerable potential is still being investigated and proven at sea. Among other unmanned devices, the ROV platform has shown very early to be a great vector as an instrument carrier or optical survey systems. ROVs may be used for investigation in rough environments or as a complimentary device along with divers to perform specific tasks.
The goal of this article is to describe two ROV-based experimental systems used by the French Navy harbors in shallow water environments to perform survey tasks and show the potential of the concept in the general framework of mine hunting and disposal.
Mine Threats in the Environment
The mine threat in general can be well countered in the conventional scenario by standard means such as high resolution imaging sonars providing pictures from the sea floor. With these pictures, mines...