Objective:
Inspecting ballast tanks with robotic 3D mapping tools prior to dry docking would improve maintenance
prediction, but the performance of existing inspection technology is unknown in confined spaces with
turbid water and minimal external lighting. This project will determine the viability of existing 3D
mapping methods on off-the-shelf underwater inspection robots by precisely analyzing their behavior.
Summary:
A significant maintenance task for the United States Navy is the inspection and repair of ship ballast
tanks. The state of a ballast tank is often unknown until the ship is docked and the ballast tank is
drained. The amount of repair needed cannot be planned until the ship is already docked, causing
frequent unplanned work and schedule delays.
Technologies such as underwater robotic vehicles with sensors capable of providing inspection data
could be deployed in a filled ballast tank prior to docking the ship, allowing the maintenance planner to
accurately assess repair needs so that the shipyard can effectively allocate crucial resources for the
repair in advance. Robotic inspection would provide timely data and help prevent schedule delays and
unplanned work. Commercially available robotic inspection solutions are capable of inspecting filled
ballast tanks but have not been rigorously evaluated for this application. This project will test existing
off-the-shelf underwater inspection robots to determine their accuracy in filled ballast tanks.
Key Deliverables / Benefits:
This project will deliver a recommendation for optimal off-the-shelf robot and mapping software, guidelines for use in ballast tank inspection, a report quantifying costs and benefits to inform adoption, and have a demonstration robot and software.
Overview
Project Team:
- Southwest Research Institute
- Ingalls Shipbuilding
- Newport News Shipbuilding
- BAE Systems Jacksonville
2025
NSRP ASE Investment: $199K
