RFID system for identifying equipment and positioning autonomous vehicles in an underwater environment
This disclosure relates to embodiments of a radio frequency identification (RFID) system. An embodiment includes a reader/recorder (active element) in autonomous robotic underwater vehicles (AUVs) and an identifying TAG (RFID) (passive element) with memory for recording an ID (identification/code). The ID is read by the reader/recorder and immediately updates its position and identification of the equipment, system, or underwater pipeline for inspection by AUVs. TAGs are placed on equipment, pipelines, and existing underwater materials in the oil field area by the AUVs themselves, or onshore. For positioning and inspections, the codes of these RFID TAGs are linked to their location in the underwater oil field at its facility.
1 . A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for identifying equipment and positioning autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in a deep sea underwater environment, the system comprising:
two separate devices, the first device being an active equipment, reader/recorder integrated into one or more AUVs, and the second device being one or more passive equipment RFID tags (TAGs) positioned to be associated with one or more items of equipment when positioned in the deep sea underwater environment, wherein identification information associated with the one or more TAGS includes stored characteristics, equipment, and material codes, which are linked to a digital positioning map for AUV inspections when in areas of the deep sea underwater environment,
wherein the identifying TAGs are positioned by the one or more AUVs when in the deep sea underwater environment, or onshore prior to positioning the equipment in the deep sea underwater environment, in one or more predetermined objects in an oil field of a selected depth of 2,000 meters or deeper in the deep sea underwater environment,
and wherein power of the active equipment, reader/recorder is increased to 5 W or greater when the one or more AUVs is positioned adjacent the oil field at the selected depth in the deep sea underwater environment.
2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to read information from the one or more identifying TAGs in a submerged area on a seabed to be carried out 60 centimeters (cm) to 120 cm away from the equipment, without contact or collision of the one or more AUVs on a structure to read an identification (ID) from the one or more identification TAGS.
3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein carrying out the identification of TAGS at 60 centimeters (cm) to 120 cm away from the equipment compensates for attenuation caused by salinity of deep sea water.
4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein the active equipment reader/recorder transmits a specific protocol in radio frequency, in the range of 100 kilohertz (KHz) to 300 KHz, for the one or more TAGs.
5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more TAGs is energized by an electromagnetic field received and returned, through transmission by means of a protocol also in radio frequency, its identification and code transmitted to the one or more AUVs reader/recorder, and wherein the one or more items of equipment includes one or more pipelines.
6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more TAGs is energized by an electromagnetic field received and returned, through transmission by means of a protocol in radio frequency, its identification and code transmitted to the one or more AUVs reader/recorder.
7 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein increasing the power of the active equipment, reader/recorder to 5 W or greater compensates for attenuation caused by salinity of deep sea water.
8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein increasing the power of the active equipment, reader/recorder to 5 W or greater compensates for frequency losses caused by salinity of deep sea water.
9 . A radio frequency identification (RFID) system for identifying equipment and positioning autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in a deep sea underwater environment, the system comprising:
two devices, the first device being an active equipment, reader/recorder integrated into one or more AUVs, and the second device being one or more passive equipment RFID tags (TAGs) positioned to be associated with one or more items of equipment when positioned in the deep sea underwater environment, wherein each of the one or more TAGS is configured to be read at a radio frequency range of 100 kilohertz (KHz) to 300 KHz when positioned in the deep sea underwater environment, wherein identification information associated with the one or more TAGS includes stored characteristics, equipment, and material codes, which are linked to a digital positioning map for AUV inspections in underwater areas,
wherein the one or more items of the active equipment, reader/recorder are positioned in a selected underwater sea depth of 2000 meters or below, and
wherein the power of the active equipment, reader/recorder is increased to 5 W or greater when in the deep sea underwater environment at a preselected depth.
10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the reader/recorder equipment transmits a specific protocol in radio frequency for the one or more TAGs.
11 . The system according to claim 10 , wherein the system is configured to read information from the one or more identifying TAGs in a submerged area on the seabed to be carried out 60 centimeters (cm) to 120 cm away from the equipment, without contact or collision of the one or more AUVs on the structure to read an identification (ID) from the one or more TAGS, and wherein the AUV follows a selected route along the map for locating and reading/recording the one or more TAGS.
12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more TAGs is energized by an electromagnetic field received and returned, through transmission by means of a protocol also in radio frequency, its identification and code corresponding to the one or more AUVs reader/recorder, and wherein the one or more items of equipment includes one or more pipelines.