Marine Ecosystems Research Department - jamstec japan agency ...

Japan Marine Science and Technology Center
Research Activities
Marine Technology Department
Outline and research policy
The Marine Technology Department provides the means to gain a better understanding of the ocean and the earth
through the research and development of marine research vessels and marine system such as deep-sea research submersibles,
remotely operated vehicles, and ocean observation buoys, and also the research and development of
underwater acoustic technology and other important, broadly usable and innovative technologies needed for ocean
observation. Research vessels, marine systems and technologies developed by the Department are widely used and
highly regarded by researchers not just in JAMSTEC, but from many other research institutions as well.
The Department aims at actively contributing to the advancement of the ocean and the earth science and technology
through research and development of sub-surface exploration systems for obtaining information on the earth's
interior under the deep seafloor, such as the deep-sea drilling vessel, ocean survey systems such as the autonomous
underwater vehicle capable of independently cruising long distances while gathering data on the ocean, and intelligent
robots, and basic systems for marine research or development such as ocean development equipment for effectively
utilizing vast marine resources including energy, and for protecting and improving the global environment,
and also through research and development into underwater acoustic technology, underwater power sources, sensors,
and other advanced technologies that can meet increasingly sophisticated ocean survey and research needs.
1. Research Project ; Category 1
(1) Research and development on advanced technologies
From Fiscal
(a) Research on video technology
The pictures taken by a underwater TV camera provide
a very important information to operator of a
remotely operated vehicle (ROV). To provide realistic
pictures to operators and researchers, this research
introduces the VR (Virtual reality) technology that has
recently made a great progress.
Deep-sea underwater TV cameras are covered with
protective pressure-proof glass, but distortions can
appear in the images filmed through the glass. This
fiscal year, the underwater TV image mosaicking system
developed by JAMSTEC, which corrects image
distortion and color and combines multiple images
into a single seamless image, underwent comprehensive
trials in actual ROV operations. The results of
these trials were very successful.
autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in an effort to
extend its cruising range. We are carrying out R&D
into the fuel (hydrogen gas) and oxidizing agent (oxygen
gas) used in the fuel cell.
This fiscal year we carried out connection tests to
confirm the suitability of two kinds of Metal Hydrides
(MH) (AB and BCC) in the AUV, and confirmed that
the supply of hydrogen gas for observation device of
AUV is stable even with load changes. However, we
discovered that the while the AB type MH is suitable
for use in the AUV and is easy to operate and maintain,
from the viewpoint of storage volume, it is not fit for
actual sea trials. And while the BCC type MH showed
positive results in suitability for use in the AUV and
storage volume, it is not suited to sea trials from an
operability and maintenance perspective. From this, we
produced the new AB type MH and conducted tests on
its hydrogen storage performance, release characteristics,
and connection to the AUV. The tests confirmed
that it is suited to undergo sea trials.
(b) Research on power sources
The Department is conducting research into the
use of solid Polymer Electrode Fuel Cell in the
(c) Underwater acoustic technology
We are undertaking research on communicating
with manned submersibles, un-tethered remotely oper-
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