AUV JINBEI
Small but mighty AUV equipped with a lot of sensors
JINBEI is an AUV developed to investigate the global oceanic environment. It is equipped with a number of sensors such as dissolved oxygen meters, fluorescence and turbidity meters, and a high-performance multi-beam depth finder. JINBEI is capable of close navigation along the seafloor, has a small turning circle making it ideal for resources exploration near undulating hydrothermal deposits on the seabed.
Main equipment
Automatic navigation to target
Position control during navigation is performed by a set of four X-rudders and two azimuth thrusters. Since the GNSS (satellite positioning systems such as GPS) cannot be used underwater, the position of the AUV is calculated by an inertial navigation system combining a gyro and an accelerometer. By combining these devices, JINBEI can automatically survey the target route as per the researchers' plan.
Navigational image
Inertial navigation system
Towing research equipment
JINBEI is also capable of towing research equipment from the rear of the fuselage and has already towed cables as long as 20 meters (five times the length of the AUV).
JINBEI with an attached cable (with orange/red buoyant material) used for detecting electrical anomalies from mineral deposits found on seabed.