GB2366111A - Video telemetry apparatus for remotely operated vehicles. - Google Patents

Video telemetry apparatus for remotely operated vehicles. Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2366111A
GB2366111A GB0115205A GB0115205A GB2366111A GB 2366111 A GB2366111 A GB 2366111A GB 0115205 A GB0115205 A GB 0115205A GB 0115205 A GB0115205 A GB 0115205A GB 2366111 A GB2366111 A GB 2366111A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
video
remotely operated
vessel
operated vehicle
drone
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0115205A
Other versions
GB2366111B (en
GB0115205D0 (en
Inventor
John William Berthold
Brian Roy Westphal
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mentor Subsea Technology Services Inc
Original Assignee
Mentor Subsea Technology Services Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mentor Subsea Technology Services Inc filed Critical Mentor Subsea Technology Services Inc
Publication of GB0115205D0 publication Critical patent/GB0115205D0/en
Publication of GB2366111A publication Critical patent/GB2366111A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2366111B publication Critical patent/GB2366111B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/20Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/18Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
    • H04N7/181Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A microwave transmitter 54 is provided on a drone vessel 14 and a microwave receiver 64 is provided on a remote station 60 (Figure 2; vessel or platform). A remotely operated vehicle 10 is connected to and controlled by the drone vessel 14 by an umbilical line 40 that includes cables for power, control, and video signals between the drone vessel 14 and remotely operated vehicle (ROV or autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) 10. Video cameras 50,16 are provided on the drone vessel 14 and the remotely operated vehicle 10. Signal conditioners 24,32 and laser-modulated diodes 26,34 are provided on the remotely operated vehicle to condition and transmit multiple video signals to the drone vessel 14 through a single mode optical fiber 36,38 in the umbilical line 40. A multiplexer produces a single output data stream for the optical cable. On the drone vessel 14, the signal is compressed, demultiplexed, conditioned, encoded as necessary, and then transmitted via an antenna 58 to a receiver on the remote station 60 (Figure 2). A receiver 64, demodulator 66, and decoder 68 are provided on the remote station 60 for viewing and/or capturing the video.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> VIDEO TELEMETRY APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLES This invention generally relates to video telemetry apparatus for remotely operated vehicles, such as that suitable for monitoring the operations of remotely operated vehicles under water.
The installation and maintenance of offshore structures such as fixed jackets, floating strudturesr undersea wellheads, and pipelines often requires the use of a remotely operated vehicle- (ROV.) or an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) due to the water depth and type of work to be performed. ROV work is typically done from a -vessel or fixed platform with a direct wire connection to the ROV for video monitoring and control of operations. AUV work may be done using wireless transmissions to control the operation and monitor the operation by video. However, wireless video monitoring with the AUV is typically done at a narrow bandwith- that limits the amount of video information that can be sent to the operator.
According to the invention there is provided a video telemetry apparatus for provision on a remotely operated vehicle controlled from a remote station where a drone vessel and tether management system are used with the remotely operated vehicle, the remotely operated vehicle and tether management system including a plurality of video cameras and means for producing a data stream from the camera signals, the video telemetry apparatus comprising:
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
means on the drone vessel for compressing, encoding, and multiplexing the multiple camera signals into a serial data stream; means on the drone vessel for modulating a radio frequency signal with the compressed serial data stream; means on the drone vessel for transmitting the signal; and means on the remote station for receiving and viewing the transmitted signal.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a microwave transmitter is provided on the drone vessel and a microwave receiver is provided on the remote station (vessel or platform). The remotely operated vehicle is connected to and controlled by the drone vessel by an umbilical line that includes cables for power, control, and video signals between the drone vessel and remotely operated vehicle. Video cameras are provided on the drone vessel and the remotely operated vehicle. Signal conditioners and laser-modulated diodes are provided on the remotely operated vehicle to condition and transmit multiple video signals to the drone vessel through a single mode optical fiber in the umbilical line. A multiplexer produces a single output data stream for the optical cable. On the drone vessel, the signal is de-multiplexed, conditioned, encoded as necessary, and then transmitted via an antenna to a receiver on the operating vessel or platform. A receiver, demodulator, and decoder are provided on the controlling vessel or platform for viewing and/or capturing the video.
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
For a further understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts are given like reference numerals, and wherein: Fig. I is a schematic illustration of parts o f a video telemetry apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, on a drone vessel and a remotely operated vehicle; and Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of parts of the apparatus on a remote station.
Figs. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a video telemetry system on a remotely operated vehicle 10, a tether management system 12, a drone vessel 14, and a remote station 60. Equipment used on the remotely operated vehicle 10 and the tether management system 12 are generally known but, for the sake of clarity, one type of video setup will be described.
The remotely operated vehicle 10 is provided with a plurality of cameras 16 and a video multiplexer, encoder, and sampler 18. The multiplexer producesa single serial output data stream at a high bit'rate that is typically 100 Nbps when using digital sampling (-50MHZ when using analog) The cameras used may be of any suitable combination, such as two black and white cameras, a low-light-level camera, and a color camer a. The signals are sent to the equipment on the tether management system 12 through a coaxial cable 20 that is contained 'within the tether line 22.
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
The tether management system 12 is provided with a first signal conditioner and laser diode drive 24, a first laser diode 26, a camera 28, a video multiplexer, encoder, and sampler 30, a second signal conditioner and laser diode driver 32, and a second laser diode 34. Coaxial cable 20 is connected between the video multiplexer and encoder 18 and the first signal conditioner and laser diode driver 24. Signals from the camera 28 on the tether management system 12 are sent to the video multiplexer and encoder 30 and then to the second signal conditioner and laser diode driver 32. The first and second laser diodes 26 and 34 respectively receive signals from their respective signal conditioners and laser diode drivers 24 and 32. The signal conditioners modulate the laser diodes 26 and 34, which transmit the video signals through single mode optical fiber cables 36 and 38 that are contained in an umbilical line 40. The video multiplexer /encoders also sample each video signal at a high bit rate.
The drone vessel 14 is provided with first and second
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
detector/receivers 42 and 4.4 that respectively receive signals from the laser diodes 26 and 34. These signals are fed into a decoder and video demultiplexer 46. Separate signals representing the input from each camera 16 and 28 are fed to a video compressor multiplexer and encoder 48. Signals from one or more cameras 50 are also fed into the video compr essor multiplexer and encoder 48. The video com pressor multiplexer and encoder 48 performs the functions that include video signal compression, digital encoding of each video signal, and multiplexing the various video signals to create a serial data stream in DS3 format. The type of video compression used detemmines picture quality and affects the cost of the multiplexer units available. The standard DS3 format (also known as G.703) is a data stream at 44.736 Nbps. The DS3 data stream is sent to a modem modulator 52, which creates a 70 MHz radio frequency (rf) signal modulated by the DS3 digital data stream. The 70 MHz signal, commonly called an intermediate frequency (IF) signal is input to a microwave transmitter 54 where the IF modulates lor up converts the digital data stream to) the 6.5 GHz carrier frequency. A linear amplifier 56,, if needed,, is used to boost the output power up to the FCC license limit of 3150 watts. From the amplifier 56,, the signal is sent to an antenna 58 for transmission to the remote station 60 seen in Fig. 2.
The remote station 60 is provided with a receiver antenna 62, a receiver 64, a modem demodulator 66, a video decompresser, demultiplexer, and decoder 68 and one or more monitors or frame grabbers 70 for viewing the video from the various cameras.
<Desc/Clms Page number 6>
The antenna 58 on the drone vessel 14 is preferably a fixed omnidirectional antenna. A parabolic dish antenna may be used but it must be pointed at the remote station.. Alternately, a fixed Yagi antenna may be used if the dynamic positioning system on the drone vessel 14 is capable of keeping the antenna continuously pointed at *the receiver antenna 62 on the remote, station 60. A Yagi antenna pattern typically exhibits an output beam angle of +/- fifteen degrees at a gain of 12 dB. An omnidirectional antenna transmits over' three hundred sixty degrees at a typical gain of 2 dB, and a one foot diameter dish antenna exhibits an output beam-angle of +/- 4.5 degrees at a gain of 22 dB.
Bebause many varying and differing embodiments may be -made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>

Claims (4)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A video telemetry apparatus for provision on a remotely operated vehicle controlled from a remote station where a drone vessel and tether management system are used with the remotely operated vehicle, the remotely operated vehicle and tether management system including a plurality of video cameras and means for producing a data stream from the camera signals, the video telemetry apparatus comprising: means on the drone vessel for compressing, encoding, and multiplexing the multiple camera signals into a serial data stream; means on the drone vessel for modulating a radio frequency signal with the compressed serial data stream; means on the drone vessel for transmitting the signal; and means on the remote station for receiving and viewing the transmitted signal.
  2. 2. A video telemetry apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for transmitting the signal comprises: a transmitter; an amplifier; and an antenna.
    <Desc/Clms Page number 8>
  3. 3. A video telemetry apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said means on the remote station for receiving and viewing the transmitted signal comprises: an antenna; a receiver; a modem demodulator; a video decompressor, demultiplexer, and decoder; and a monitor/frame grabber.
  4. 4. A video telemetry apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB0115205A 2000-08-04 2001-06-21 Video telemetry apparatus for remotely operated vehicles Expired - Fee Related GB2366111B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US63174000A 2000-08-04 2000-08-04

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0115205D0 GB0115205D0 (en) 2001-08-15
GB2366111A true GB2366111A (en) 2002-02-27
GB2366111B GB2366111B (en) 2004-08-18

Family

ID=24532541

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0115205A Expired - Fee Related GB2366111B (en) 2000-08-04 2001-06-21 Video telemetry apparatus for remotely operated vehicles

Country Status (4)

Country Link
AU (1) AU766380B2 (en)
BR (1) BR0103083A (en)
GB (1) GB2366111B (en)
NO (1) NO330188B1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2949167A1 (en) * 2009-08-11 2011-02-18 Alain Dinis Virtual integrated diving system for e.g. pedagogical field, has CPU in which images are mixed with representation to simulate submarine diving by providing visual site perception if divers dive at same moment in sites, to Internet users
CN105974941A (en) * 2016-07-27 2016-09-28 潘燕 Unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance system

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102018212561A1 (en) 2018-07-27 2020-01-30 Atlas Elektronik Gmbh Arrangement and method for wireless data transmission

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4855822A (en) * 1988-01-26 1989-08-08 Honeywell, Inc. Human engineered remote driving system
US5103306A (en) * 1990-03-28 1992-04-07 Transitions Research Corporation Digital image compression employing a resolution gradient

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4855822A (en) * 1988-01-26 1989-08-08 Honeywell, Inc. Human engineered remote driving system
US5103306A (en) * 1990-03-28 1992-04-07 Transitions Research Corporation Digital image compression employing a resolution gradient

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
"DSP hardware implementation of transform-based compression algorithm for AUV telemetry", Kocak, Caimi, IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OCEANS '98), Vol. 3, 1624-1628 (1998). *
"Motion-based compression of underwater video imagery for the operations of unmanned submersible vehicles", Negahdaripour, Khamene, Computer Vision and Image Understanding, Vol. 79, No. 1, 162-183 (2000). *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2949167A1 (en) * 2009-08-11 2011-02-18 Alain Dinis Virtual integrated diving system for e.g. pedagogical field, has CPU in which images are mixed with representation to simulate submarine diving by providing visual site perception if divers dive at same moment in sites, to Internet users
CN105974941A (en) * 2016-07-27 2016-09-28 潘燕 Unmanned aerial vehicle reconnaissance system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20013664L (en) 2002-02-05
GB2366111B (en) 2004-08-18
BR0103083A (en) 2002-07-02
NO20013664D0 (en) 2001-07-26
NO330188B1 (en) 2011-03-07
AU766380B2 (en) 2003-10-16
AU5412001A (en) 2002-02-07
GB0115205D0 (en) 2001-08-15

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20150621