AUVSIPRO – A simulation program for performance prediction of autonomous underwater vehicle with different propulsion system configurations

Abstract

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) is a growing technology with a great potential to both military and civilian applications. Extensive developments and advanced innovations of AUV have been introduced in recent years from various research centres around the world. Among the fundamental modules of an AUV, the propulsion system strongly affects the vehicle performance. The increasing complexity in missions and operational environment require the propulsion system to offer high efficiency and excellent manoeuvrability. In this study, an AUV simulation program named AUVSIPRO is proposed in the preliminary design stage to predict and compare the AUV manoeuvrability equipped with different propulsion configurations. A series of primary manoeuvres standard for underwater vehicles are presented to investigate the system feasibility. In order to derive the mathematical model in the simulator, the propulsor models are experimentally conducted in the Towing Tank, the hull hydrodynamic coefficients are calculated using analytical, and system identification approaches. The system outputs are achieved by numerical method. The simulation program provides an effective platform to examine different the propulsion system configurations to an AUV as well as a torpedo shaped submarine.