A low-power propeller-based propulsion module has been developed to augment the buoyancy engine of a 200 m Slocum electric glider. This device is introduced to allow new behaviours such as horizontal flight and faster overall speeds to expand the existing operational envelope of underwater gliders. The design of the system is optimized for use at the typical horizontal glider speed of 0.3 m/s. Before integration into the glider the stand-alone propulsion module has been tested in a small flume tank to verify the systems performance. The validity of a previously published hydrodynamic model of the glider at zero angle of attack was verified by conducting drag measurements at various flow velocities at full scale in a larger flume tank. Self-propulsion tests were also performed to establish the performance of the glider with the new propulsion module in the larger flume tank and in the university tow tank. The results from these tests show that the new propulsion module is able to match the performance of the conventional glider for full depth profiles and to exceed it for limited depth profiles.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Development of an Auxiliary Propulsion Module for an Autonomous Underwater Glider


    Contributors:
    Claus, B (author) / Bachmayer, R (author) / Williams, C D (author)


    Publication date :

    2010-11-01


    Size :

    12 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    The autonomous underwater glider "Spray"

    Sherman, J. / Davis, R.E. / Owens, W.B. et al. | Tema Archive | 2001


    Multi-navigation-state bionic propulsion underwater glider

    HUO CONG / WANG YUNTAO / GAO XIAOPENG et al. | European Patent Office | 2025

    Free access

    Autonomous Underwater Glider: A Comprehensive Review

    Enrico Petritoli / Fabio Leccese | DOAJ | 2024

    Free access

    UNDERWATER GLIDER

    ALLUM RONALD CHARLES / LAVERY ALAN MIGUEL / JOHNSTON MATTHEW GLEN | European Patent Office | 2020

    Free access