Underwater docking system for autonomous underwater vehicle

An underwater docking system for an autonomous underwater vehicle,

• the underwater docking system comprising:
• an underwater station including
• a base mount fixed to a seabed and
• a circular frame member supported by the base mount and parallel to a horizontal plane;
• and
• an autonomous underwater vehicle configured to dock with the underwater station while sailing through an upper side of the frame member, wherein:
• the autonomous underwater vehicle includes
• an underwater vehicle main body,
• at least one capturing arm provided at a lower portion of the underwater vehicle main body, the at least one capturing arm including one end coupled to the underwater vehicle main body so as to be rotatable in a forward/rearward direction and the other end at which an engaging hook configured to be engaged with the frame member is provided, and
• a locking mechanism provided at the lower portion of the underwater vehicle main body and configured to be locked to a front portion of the frame member in a sailing direction of the autonomous underwater vehicle when the engaging hook is engaged with a rear portion of the frame member in the sailing direction, and the underwater vehicle main body has approached the frame member while the capturing arm rotates rearward.