Synergistic Technology of Underwater Connectors and Underwater Robot Modules
Underwater connectors, serving as the “neural hub” of deep-sea equipment, form a precision-coordinated system with underwater robot modules. Take China’s optoelectronic wet-mate connector as an example: it employs metal-rubber composite sealing structures and nickel-based alloys to withstand 160MPa pressure and -5℃ temperatures at 1,600-meter depths. This connector achieves millimeter-level precision installation of 187-ton equipment through hydraulic-driven synchronous docking technology, providing power and signal transmission channels for ROVs (remotely operated vehicles).
Underwater robot modules integrate multi-modal sensors, manipulators, and propulsion systems. For instance, the TMI-Orion ROV’s Electrical Manipulator Arm (EMA) features three expandable connectors that flexibly accommodate cameras, lasers, and other devices for underwater sample collection and equipment maintenance. Zhejiang University’s modular underwater robot innovatively uses gel cube modules to achieve energy and information interaction via electromagnetic coupling, enabling rapid functional reconfiguration in deep-sea environments.
In collaborative applications, ROVs power seabed observatory nodes through connectors while deploying domestically developed horizontal clamp connectors to achieve automatic docking with coaxiality errors less than 0.2mm at 1,500-meter depths. The connector developed by Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics has operated continuously for over 70 days in the South China Sea, achieving international-level performance with a 60% cost reduction per unit, accelerating the localization of deep-sea equipment. Future breakthroughs in high-temperature/high-pressure connectors (resistant to 260℃ and 200MPa) will further expand the application boundaries of underwater robots.