Tran Ngoc Huy, lecturer at HCMC University of Science and Technology, a member of the research team on self-propelled robots, affirmed that the team has mastered technology to make submarines for different purposes and can cooperate with businesses for commercial development.

Mr Tran Ngoc Huy (first right)

There are many research works and applications globally in the field of submarines, and water surface vehicles, both automatic and semi-automatic, that serve environmental monitoring, rescue work and national defence. However, in Vietnam, the research remains modest.

After many years of research and experiments, Huy and his co-workers have successfully created different versions of self-propelled robots that run on water surface and underwater. These include unmanned surface vehicles (USV), remotely operated vehicles (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), and device-control computer programs.

There are many research works and applications globally in the field of submarines, and water surface vehicles, both automatic and semi-automatic, that serve environmental monitoring, rescue work and national defence. However, in Vietnam, the research remains modest.

 The robots have been tested in real conditions However, the research team can only experiment with them in swimming pools and small lakes because of limited budget.

“We have core technologies to manufacture robots and we can join forces with institutions and businesses to make robots commercially to clients’ orders,” he stated.

The institutions which have demand can place orders with the research team and the scientists then develop technological solutions that satisfy their requirements.

“With technology mastery, I believe that Vietnam-made products will have more reasonable prices than imported products,” Huy said.

Nguyen Truong Tho from the Marine Technical Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has ordered the research team to design environmental monitoring equipment on rivers and coastline.

Tho said that collecting environmental monitoring indexes on river and coastline can be difficult in unfavorable weather conditions. The vehicles will be very useful.

Currently, some research teams have to use foreign made equipment and it would be better to use products made with Vietnamese technology under the ‘buy Vietnamese’ program.

According to Nguyen Thai Ha from the HCMC Science & Technology Department, information about technology solutions from the research team will be published on Techport, the information portal of the department, an online tool that connects scientists and businesses for technology transfer.

The products the research team has successfully tested include:

USV: 1.2 x 0.8 meters, 70kg, 4 knots, or 2.06m per second. The ship can be used in the field of environmental research and supervision, mapping, patrol and reconnaissance. It can carry weapons for military purposes.

ROV: 0.9 x 0.4 x 0.4 meters, 70kg. It is capable of breaking mines, and carrying out security patrols, oil and gas exploration, underwater archeology and shipwreck exploration

AUV: capable of exploring geological surfaces, collecting information on mineral deposits, and clearing bombs. Use in underground warfare to serve the nation.

Thanh Lich

Growing demand for robots in Vietnam

Vietnam became the world’s seventh largest market for robots in 2017, and the demand from companies looking to use robots to modernize production remains strong, according to speakers at a recent workshop in HCMC.