Challenges in Developing Deep-Water Human Occupied Vehicles

Human occupied vehicles (HOV) offer enhanced manoeuvering over the remotely operated vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles. The presence of human increases the dexterity of the HOV operations, but at the same time, the man-rated vehicle design and operation requires significant attention to vehicle reliability, and in turn human safety. This article details the challenges involved in the design and development of deep water HOV, with specific reference to the 6000 m depth-rated HOV designed by the MoES– National Institute of Ocean Technology for enhancing India’s engineering capability in the deep ocean scientific research.