New details: Precision control and dynamic sealing technology breakthrough of deep-sea optoelectronic wet-mate connectors.
Core Focus: Precision control and dynamic sealing technology breakthrough of deep-sea optoelectronic wet-mate connectors.
Summary:
Extreme underwater pressure at depths of thousands of meters is vividly illustrated with the metaphor of "placing a motorcycle on a fingernail". Since human divers cannot operate at such depths, wet mating is entirely performed by manipulators of ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles).Fiber-optic transmission demands an alignment precision of 9 micrometers, yet ROV manipulators operate with relatively low accuracy. The technical team developed multi-stage guiding technology and redundant design to realize precise alignment despite coarse manipulation.
Mating and unmating involves dynamic sealing. As water pressure rises, friction on sealing components increases exponentially. The research team built dedicated pressure vessels and linear guide units to solve the long-standing industry dilemma: achieving complete watertight performance while keeping the manipulators able to complete the mating operation smoothly.