Development of side thruster system for ASV

Kato, Tetsu*; Kawamura, Yamato*; Tahara, Junichiro*; Baba, Shoichiro*; Sanada, Yukihisa   

This paper describes the development of side thruster system can keep the heading direction for ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle). At present, JAMSTEC, JAEA, and TUMSAT are jointly working on the investigation of radioactivity in mud deposited in estuaries in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The main objective of this project is unmanned mud collect using the ASV. We developed and controlled the side thruster system for applying ASV to mud collecting operation. As the result of the bollard test, turn and parallel movement test, we confirmed that it can maintain the heading direction for the ASV.