Overview of Underwater Robots for Hull Cleaning

Abstract

At present, the cleaning of the hull surface in China is carried out in the dock, and the cleaning equipment that can be successfully used in underwater operations still needs the assistance of divers in the water, which is high cost and low efficiency. This paper introduces the current situation of hull cleaning robots at home and abroad, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of related technologies, such as dock cleaning technology, underwater cleaning technology, etc., and analyzes the development trend of underwater hull cleaning equipment in the future, providing a theoretical basis for the development of hull cleaning equipment. Underwater cleaning robots have been a rapidly developing research and application field in recent years. Its main goal is to perform cleaning, maintenance, and monitoring tasks in an underwater environment by automated or semi-automated means. Such robots are used in a wide variety of application scenarios, including but not limited to oilfield maintenance, marine debris removal, reservoir and pond management, and ship maintenance study design: Underwater cleaning robots are capable of working long hours in harsh environments and their programmability and versatility enable them to perform a variety of complex tasks. In addition, with the development of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and deep learning, the level of intelligence of these robots is also gradually improving. With global industrialization and population growth, the problem of underwater environmental pollution is becoming more and more serious. Traditional underwater cleanup methods often rely on human labor, which is not only inefficient but also can pose a safety risk to workers. Therefore, automation technology has great potential and value in this field. To sum up, underwater cleaning robot is a multidisciplinary field, involving mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer science, and environmental science. It not only contributes to solving current pressing environmental problems but also provides new research and application opportunities in related fields.