Offshore underwater construction is a complicated and slow process. I thought about ways to speed up the construction and allow more automation. The solution was to build a cartesian building platform like in CNC machines and 3D printers. In order to accomplish flexible build volume, I thought about using scissor like extensions. These extensions will be carried by autonomous boats with twin pontoons. Each boat will carry two extensions; vertical extension to be lowered down to the sea floor, horizontal extension to connect with another extender boat. When four boats reach the construction site, they will extend their extensions to form a cartesian build platform. The pontoons will be filled with sea water to sink the boats slightly to improve stability. Then, other autonomous boats will arrive and attach carriages on the scissor like extensions. The extensions will have rails to stabilize the carriages. Above surface carriages will be used like cranes to lower parts underwater. After that, underwater horizontal extensions will be lowered and mounted. Then, underwater carriages will be mounted on the extensions which then carry the construction arms.
Once the cartesian construction platform is assembled by the robot boats, the underwater construction would begin. The extender boats would double as docking ports for the boats carrying construction material. They will also have vertical wind turbines to generate electricity on site to power the construction arms underwater. Human operators can also be nearby accommodated in another boat.
This method of construction would be much faster than using construction ROVs which cannot carry big and heavy parts. They are also slow and their tether pose big problems. Underwater construction platform would allow high power and data connectivity to the multiple construction arms to speed up construction and precision.
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