Analytical design of an underwater construction robot on the slope with an up-cutting mode operation of a cutter bar

Abstract

In this paper, the movements of the analytical models of complete underwater tracked vehicle (UTV) and cutter bar (CB) tool systems on a surface as well as their movements up and down a slope in the up-cutting mode operation are fully studied and analyzed. First, the mathematical expression of the mechanics, for which the forces, moments, and energy from the CB to the UTV are analyzed, is related. Next, analyses on the systemic parameters and their sensitivity are conducted to observe the variations of the operational and geometric parameters, as well as the cutter-tool and material-condition effects on the force, moment, and power components. Also, a design process composed of seven typical steps is proposed as the reference of a trencher-machine design. The important design parameters of the trenching machine such as the length of the CB, the nose radius of the CB, and the height of the pivot point are designed according to the proposed design process; furthermore, these parameters are used for the estimation of the slope-angle range when the trencher system is working on the slope. To demonstrate the application of derived equations to practical problems of the machine design, a number of numerical simulations are performed. Through the numerical simulations, the important parameters of the system such as the tangential force, Ft, the tractive thrust, H, the normal reaction, V, the cutting moment, Mc, the maximum carrier weight, W, and the available power are analyzed. From these, as a reference data for the designing of a trencher machine, the previous design of the system can be improved.