Running head: UNMANNED SYSTEM IN ITS ENVIRONMENT 1

Unmanned System in Its Environment

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Introduction

The automation of marine vehicles has been the center of focus for many researchers

developing autonomous guidance and control systems (Van et al., 2020). The processes involved

in the automation of these systems try to overcome some of the most challenging problems posed

by the unrelenting surface and underwater conditions of the sea. The outcomes of these

researches provide significantly helpful solutions in the development of ocean navigation tools

(F. Kong et al., 2020). This paper presents a summary of the article by Van et al. (2020) titled

"Study on the dynamic behavior of unmanned surface vehicle-linked unmanned underwater

vehicle system for underwater exploration." As the title suggests, the article discusses the

dynamic behavior of an unmanned system for an unmanned surface and underwater vehicle.

Summary

The importance of unmanned surface and underwater systems to the marine exploration

processes such as seafloor mapping, marine biology, oceanography, military use, among other

applications, has increased the rate of research into the field over the last few years. The article

by Van et al. (2020) highlights the importance of the study into unmanned marine vehicles and

the increasing focus on the field. Unmanned underwater vehicles collect data in the underwater

environment using sensors and transmit this information reliably to the control center (Van et al.,

2020). Their practical applications, therefore, extend beyond marine exploration since sensor

reliability cuts across a wide array of scientific fields.

The volatility of both surface and underwater marine conditions poses practical problems

associated with unmanned sea vehicles (Van et al., 2020). The authors noted that some

researchers conducted experiments using combined motion vehicles and underwater cables,

although they did not ascertain the dynamic behavior of such combined systems. The reliability
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of the sensors was one of the major concerns for these researchers. Breakthroughs in this area

offer solutions in numerous application fields where environmental conditions are volatile such

as the marine and aeronautic application fields.

The paper used the numerical scheme and extended it to evaluate the interaction that

occurred between the unmanned surface vehicle (USV) and the unmanned underwater vehicle

(UUV) through the communication cable (Van et al., 2020). The researchers used this scheme to

develop equations that described this interaction and predict the motions of the vehicles. The

researchers conducted several simulations and documented them based on the equations

developed to ascertain their accuracy. The effect of the sea domain on the design and

implementation of the system was evident in the structures. The communication cable provided

reliable testing and verification channels in the dynamic maritime environment.

The maritime domain significantly influenced the structure and control of the unmanned

system described by Van et al. (2020). The USV had three propellers for movement control, and

radio frequency (RF) alongside long-term evolution (LTE) for communication with the control

center (Van et al., 2020). Intercommunication between the USV and the UUV relied on the

underwater cable (UC). These structural considerations tried to overcome the dynamic conditions

on the surface of the sea. The UUV shape was streamlined and fitted with horizontal thrusters for

movement beneath the sea surface. The UUV also had vertical thrusters for adjusting the depth

of the UUV in the water. The structure and design of the two vehicles were highly reflective of

the environment in which they operated.

Conclusion

Van et al. (2020) describe an unmanned marine system made up of a UUV, a USV, and a

UC to enable communication between the two vehicles. This paper is a summary of the structure
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and design of this system. It focuses on the effect of the sea domain on the design concepts used

in the development of the system. As noted in the previous sections, the influence of surface and

underwater conditions in the sea domain on this design was critical in the structural

specifications and sensor configuration of the system.

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References

Kong, F., Guo, Y., & Lyu, W. (2020). Dynamics Modeling and Motion Control of an New

Unmanned Underwater Vehicle. IEEE Access, 8, 30119-30126.

Van, M., Bui, D. H. P., Do, Q. T., Huynh, T. T., Lee, S. D., & Choi, H. S. (2020). Study on

Dynamic Behavior of Unmanned Surface Vehicle-Linked Unmanned Underwater

Vehicle System for Underwater Exploration. Sensors, 20(5), 1329.