1. An apparatus (400) for inspecting a submerged structure, the apparatus
(400) comprising:
a remote unmanned vehicle (200), comprising:
at least one sensor (70) mounted on a portion of the frame
10 member (201), the at least one sensor (70) configured to
transmit at least one first signal corresponding to distance of the
remote unmanned vehicle (200) from a surface of the
submerged structure; and
at least one inspection device (100) mounted on a portion of the
15 remote unmanned vehicle (200), the at least one inspection device (100)
comprising:
a plunger (20) within an enclosure (10), the plunger (20)
is configured to move in a reciprocated motion within the
enclosure (10) to selectively contact a portion of the surface of
20 the submerged structure;
at least one biasing member (40) positioned at one end of
the plunger (20) to bias the plunger (20) relative to the surface
of the submerged structure;
an actuator (30) provided along a portion of the plunger
25 (20) and disposed adjacent to the biasing member (40), the
actuator (30) is configured to actuate the plunger (20) , and
an accelerometer (50) positioned on a portion of the enclosure
(10), the accelerometer (50) is configured to detect acceleration and
deceleration of the plunger (20) and transmit at least one second signal
30 corresponding to the deceleration;
a control unit (60) communicatively coupled to the at least one
inspection device (100) and the remote unmanned vehicle (200), the
control unit (60) is configured to:
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5 receive at least one first signal from the at least one
sensor (70), corresponding to a distance of the remote unmanned
vehicle (200) from the submerged structure;
receive, the at least one second signal from the
accelerometer (50);
10 determine deceleration of the plunger (20) based on the
at least one second signal, upon receiving the at least one first
signal, and
determine strength of the submerged structure based on
the determined deceleration of the plunger (20).
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2. The apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote
unmanned vehicle (200) comprises:
a frame member (201); and
at least one thruster (202) positioned on the frame member (201)
20 and communicatively coupled to the control unit (60), wherein the at
least one thruster (202) is configured to manoeuvre the remote
unmanned vehicle (200).
3. The apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plunger (20) is
25 configured to move in reciprocation motion within the enclosure (10) at
a predefined acceleration or deceleration.
4. The apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plunger (20) is
configured to move in a forward direction away from the frame member
30 (201) and rebound in a backward direction toward the frame member
(201) from the surface of the submerged structure.
5. The apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator (30) is
a linear actuator.
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5 6. The apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the deceleration of
the plunger (20) corresponds to the strength of submerged structure
resulting in rebound of the plunger (20) in the backward direction.
7. The apparatus (400) as claimed in claim 1, comprises an auxiliary
10 housing coupled to the actuator (30) to accommodate the control unit
(60) and a power source communicatively coupled to the control unit
(60).
8. A method for regulating operation of an apparatus (400) for inspecting
15 a submerged structure, the method comprising:
receiving, by a control unit (60), at least one first signal from the
at least one sensor (70), corresponding to distance of the remote
unmanned vehicle (200) from the submerged structure;
receiving, by the control unit (60), the at least one second signal
20 corresponding to the deceleration of a plunger (20) of at least one
inspection device (100) mounted on a portion of the remote unmanned
vehicle (200), the at least one second signal is received from an
accelerometer (50);
determining, by the control unit (60), deceleration of the plunger
25 (20) based on the at least one second signal, upon receiving the at least
one first signal, and
determining, by the control unit (60), strength of the submerged
structure based on the determined deceleration of the plunger (20).