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The exostructure of the 2000m Deep Submergence Research Vehicle is designed as a structure to install a pressure hull, batteries, electric inverters and a distributor, main ballasting tanks, buoyancy materials and so on. Also this exostructure has to endure two loading conditions as follows; one is applied when the vehicle is recovered from sea surface using an A frame crane which is mounted on a support ship, the other is applied while the vehicle is transported on board. While the weight of the vehicle is considerably related to that of the exostructure, so the exostructure must be simplified and the weight of it must be reduced. In order to satisfy these requirements, the exostructure consists of a space frame structure of titanium extrusions and FRP skin plates. This paper mainly describes the design consideration, and the fabrication process of the space frame structure for the 2000m Deep Submergence Research Vehicle.
