Industrial Consultancy & Sponsored Research (IC&SR) , IIT Madras
An Underwater Capsule Vehicle
Technology Category/Market
Category- Applied Mechanics & Mechanical Engineering/ Robotics & Automation
Industry Classification:
Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing; Marine Robotics; Environmental Monitoring; offshore energy
Applications:
Environmental Monitoring; Marine Archaeology; Industrial Inspection; Gathering mineral or biomass samples; Research Expeditions
Market report:
The Global autonomous underwater vehicle market was valued at USD 3.42 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 16.85 billion by 2035 with a CAGR 15.6 %
Problem Statement
- Underwater capsule vehicles facilitate critical deep-sea exploration, environmental monitoring, resource assessment, defense, scientific research by safely transporting operators and obtaining diverse samples under high-pressure conditions.
- Conventional submersibles use bulky sampling devices, limiting type diversity due to compact hulls, complex buoyancy controls, and reduced interior space for multiple instruments.
- Further, most conventional capsules collect only a single sample type, requiring separate devices, increasing weight, operator complexity, and reducing stability and maneuverability in dynamic underwater environments.
- There is a need for an underwater capsule that simplifies operations, reduces complexity, and allows for a greater diversity of samples, making it versatile and efficient.
Technology
- A robust, pressure-resistant enclosure housing sampling units and propulsion mechanisms ensures durability in extreme underwater conditions.
- The conical head of the sample collection system features concentric peripheral pockets, intermediate channels, and a central aperture—each linked to dedicated conduits—enabling discrete intake of solids, semi-solids, and liquids in a single deployment.
- Each peripheral pocket houses an agitator consisting of a main cylinder, driving shaft, and cutter head; pressurized gas pulses stir the seabed surface, freeing compacted sediments for efficient peripheral channel intake
- A guide mechanism employing a support rod, perpendicular first and second cylinders, and a bottom shutter permits precise vertical and lateral positioning of the sampling unit through the hull, ensuring stable seabed contact.
- Cutouts in the head house sensors, LEDs, and cameras linked to an onboard control unit—providing real-time detection of sample types, optimized actuator control, and visual confirmation to the operator.
Key Features/Value Proposition
- Simultaneously collects solid, semi-solid, and fluid samples via dedicated peripheral, intermediate, and central channels, eliminating the need for multiple devices.
- Peripheral storage units with check-valve and suction devices secure each sample type separately, ensuring contamination-free collection and increased onboard capacity.
- Pneumatically driven agitators in each pocket stir sediments before intake, improving recovery of settled solids and heterogeneous mixtures.
- Dual-cylinder cantilever guide mechanism and shutter allow accurate, repeatable positioning of the sampling head on uneven seabed, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Embedded sensors, illumination units, and cameras provide real-time feedback for sample detection and verification, reducing trial-and-error and mission risk.
Questions about this Technology?
Contact for Licensing
Research Lab
Prof. Prabhu Rajagopal
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Intellectual Property
- IITM IDF Ref 3013
- IN 202441055987 Patent Application
Technology Readiness Level
TRL 2
Technology Concept formulated