he purpose of the work is to analyze the aggregates of complexes for the extraction of marine minerals. In particular, the variants of complexes, their advantages and disadvantages are considered. The complex is analyzed, which uses robotic pickers/reclaimers of the walking type to perform mining operations of ferromanganese nodules (FMN) or cobalt-bearing manganese crusts (CMC). Results. The variants of complexes for mining of bottom deposits are analyzed, advantages and disadvantages of different variants are indicated. The device for collecting minerals on the bottom, developed in SPMU, is described, laboratory studies of the model of such a device are considered, the main parameters are presented, the dependence of productivity on the size and time of operations of the cycle of work is indicated. It is determined that for minimal impact on the seabed biota it is necessary to use walking submersibles with an actuator for extraction in the form of rarefaction chambers or a grapple with an impactor (depending on the type of solid minerals). It is shown that the productivity of the walking underwater vehicle varies with the diameter of the rarefaction chamber plates: the optimum plate diameter is 1.5 m. Experimental study of hydrodynamic resistance of “foot” models with different midships cross-section has been carried out. According to the experimental results, the conclusion about the preferred design of the “foot” was made: the cross-section should be a streamlined shape with the smallest drag coefficient cx and have a continuous surface without holes. Experimental studies of tine models movement in water have shown that it is reasonable to use as tine parts the structures without holes, streamlined ellipsoidal shape. Calculations of productivity of mining units when using rope hoisting from the bottom to the ship have shown the necessity of using four or more hoisting devices for realization of the required annual productivity of more than 1 million tons per year. The stages of creating a workable extraction unit including a vessel, vertical lifting device and a system of deep-water collectors require very significant material and monetary costs, so they should be carried out in accordance with the R&D plan and tasks of the relevant ministry and agency and require coordination of efforts of investors, scientists and machine builders.

The extraction of oceanic ores will make it possible to extract a complex of strategic metals: manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc. The following materials are considered as cost-effective mineral raw in the ocean: manganese nodules – MN (Mn, Ni, Cu, Co), cobalt-rich manganese crusts – CMC (Co, Mn, Ni), deep-sea polymetallic sulfides – DPS (Cu, Zn, Au, Ag). As an example, the Indian concept of deepwater development is described, which proposes to use the pipeline as a transport of minerals from the bottom. The calculation of the pipeline transportation system with the indication of shortcomings is given. As an alternative, it is proposed to use a lift of a self-propelled device for minerals on a cable made of special material. The article presents a device for deep-sea mining of MN with pressure drop chambers. The method of application of this device for collecting CMC is replacing the pressure drop chambers with the clamshell type device. The grab must be made of strong and at the same time light material and can be equipped with a hydraulic hammer for preliminary destruction. Elements of the shock system of the hydraulic hammer must also be adapted to the conditions of deep-sea mining by using special metal alloys for manufacturing. The destroyed mass is temporarily stored in a hopper mounted on a collector, which can be made of nylon mesh stretched between plates of titanium alloys. The calculation of the performance of the device for deep-sea mining from is presented.

Radial charts were commonly used in the industry to allow retrospective assessment of technological parameters. Today it is relevant to digitize the obtained data in order to simplify the automation of technological processes. Digitization of radial charts by means of standard methods is carried out with the help of human labor at significant time costs. The article proposes an automated method for digitizing radial charts using software, developed in the LabVIEW programming environment. The results of processing radial charts are displayed on the screen in numerical and graphical form, and can also be exported to a file (for example, to Notepad or MS Excel). The presented technique can be applied to images obtained on a color or black-and-white scanner, which minimizes geometric distortions, associated with the conversion of a paper document into electronic form, and ensures recognition quality of the clear plot line with an average relative error of up to 3 %. In case of ink fading or perspective photos of the diagram, the value of relative error can reach 8 %, as a result of which additional manual correction of the data will be required.