Design, deployment, and recovery of benthic landers and instrumentation using the towed vehicle LanderPick

Benefit description

The LanderPick concept involves the development of submarine landers equipped with built-in 'cobweb' structures, designed for easy hitching to a compact, cost-effective, and remotely operated towed vehicle (ROTV). This system is capable of transporting and deploying oceanographic instrumentation to the seafloor with visual assistance. The ROTV, referred to as the LanderPick, features a high-definition underwater camera, spotlights, a heavy-load mechanical release system, and thrusters for precise maneuvering. During the landing process, auxiliary cords connect the release mechanism to the lander, ensuring secure deployment. Once the lander is visually confirmed to be in the target location, these cords are disengaged. For recovery, the ship¿s dynamic positioning system guides the LanderPick ROTV to the target area. In the final stages, the subsea positioning and tracking system, along with the camera and thrusters, assist in locating the lander. A grapnel then hooks onto the lander's 'cobweb', enabling retrieval.