Subsea system providing inductive power transfer and acoustic and/or radio communication of navigation information and other data

摘要

This application concerns transferring power inductively between a subsea vehicle, such as an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and a subsea station, such as a remotely deployed sensor (RDS). Navigational information is wirelessly exchanged between the vehicle and the station to guide the vehicle to the station. Acoustic and radio transceivers are provided and a selection is made between acoustic and radio communication on the basis of the quality of communications or the distance of the vehicle from the station. The transceivers used for transferring navigational information may also be used for transferring other data.