The role of high-tech search engine

Malaysia Airlines' search for missing aircraft can be supported by the adoption of a number of high-tech search engines such as underwater auto vehicles or remote operation equipment.

The most modern detectors are being mobilized to solve the mysterious question regarding the MH370 flight in the South Indian Ocean:

Towed pinger locator (TPL) positioning device

Operational simulation diagram for detection of signals from black boxes by American towed pinger locator.(Photo: US Navy)

One of the useful devices that an aircraft can be equipped with is the ultrasound (pinger). This is the "sound" transmitted from the aircraft data collector and the cockpit signal that can be heard from 3 km away.

To explain how TPL works, Paul Nelson, director of Phoenix International, described it as similar when someone can't find the phone, they can call the subscriber number, hear the bell and collect. narrow search range. Phoenix International is a US company that owns 25 TPL-25 systems, which can be dropped into the sea at a depth of 6,000km and operate for hours.

During the search for Malaysia Airlines' missing aircraft, the US Navy deployed a large ship with a TPL positioning device to detect a black box under water. Towed Pinger Locator is pulled from the back of the ship at slow speed and can detect sound with high sensitivity. If the plane position is determined, this device can hear sound from the black box signal transmitter at a maximum depth of 6,100m.

However, the limitation of the search process is that the battery's uptime on the "ping" signaling unit lasts only 30-45 days, and can be drowned out by the influence of the time weather, noise or mud layers.

In 2009, TPL-25 was used by experts in the search for Air France's missing aircraft. However, the search was unsuccessful. Two years later, the experts discovered parts that collect aircraft and debris data using underwater automatic devices.

Automatic underwater vehicles (AUV)

An AUV is dropped into the sea.(Photo: MBARI)

AUV is often used for oil well exploration in the oil and gas extraction industry. Application for detecting signals from the aircraft data collector, AUV can narrow the search area in the plane area by supporting ocean floor mapping.

According to analyst David Soucie, small AUV usually only goes deep into the sea at a depth of about 1.5 km. New generation devices of larger sizes can be brought into the sea at a greater depth.

One of Phoenix International's most sophisticated AUV devices has been activated and taken to Perth, Australia, to assist in the search for an aircraft with the MH370 number. The device is yellow, longer than 5 meters, equipped with a camera and has an air weight of about 720 kg. It can be brought to the water at a depth of 6,000m and moves from 2-4.5 knots in 20 hours, using an ultrasonic scanner to form a seabed map.

AUV is an unmanned automatic device, so they can be programmed as robots. The device uses a model similar to the grid line system to create a deep sea image. The surrounding sensors will help AUV avoid obstacles that may interfere with or affect this system.

AUV used to play an important role in the case of Air France aircraft, which searched for aircraft debris from an Italian designer off Venezuela or discovered that HMS Ark Royal was sunk during World War II.

Remote operation vehicles (ROV)

An ROV device is dropped into the ocean in ocean exploration.(Photo: NOAA)

In order to solve the mystery of MH370, investigators still need more observation support in the area that can detect aircraft debris and the location of the black box. ROV can be a useful support tool in this case.

ROV is tied to a ship, descending into the sea by cable. Operation of ROV will be observed and adjusted by remote monitoring system. These devices are also equipped with underwater cameras and send images directly to the control room.

Historically, ROV has supported experts to find debris from the famous shipwreck named Titanic.