Research to Enhance the Precision of Undersea Observations
Among the various methods employed for marine observation, offshore surveying using an observation instrument hanging from a winch on board ship is essential for collecting quality data, materials, and samples.
This method involves lowering an observation instrument attached to several thousand meters of cable, and maneuvering it using a winch. More precise higher quality observation becomes possible if the effect of the rocking of the ship by ocean waves, etc. can be minimized. However, only special, expensive winches manufactured overseas currently provide this functionality.
This research aims to develop a new and sophisticated Japanese marine observation winch that can predict and compensate for the rocking movements of the ship that will occur in the near future; this is achieved by using data from rocking of the ship sampled over a set period of time, and employing an optimal control system that utilizes a statistic prediction model.
