A Low Speed Maneuvering Technology for Docking of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles

Reliable docking mechanisms are essential for operation of AUV networks in harsh environment such as under ice in polar region. Hydrodynamic design of AUVs are often driven on a few competing fronts: (i) Rapid and efficient deployment to the work-zone and (ii) low speed maneuvering during the docking procedure and for operations at the work-zone. Rapid deployment necessitates a streamlined body of revolution (eg. Torpedo- shape design) for fast cruising with minimal energy. However, since the trajectory of this type of vehicles is adjusted using control surfaces, the magnitude of the available control force is proportional to the vehicle's speed. Consequently, these vehicles are difficult to maneuver at low speeds and in tight spaces. Therefore, they are particularly difficult to dock. Such vehicles also cannot opportunistically enter a precise loitering or hovering mode. As a result much current effort is devoted to the development of docking mechanisms, but this is just a solution for the symptoms, and does not really address the problem of the vehicle's actual maneuvering capabilities. On the other hand, low speed maneuvering and better control are often achieved by the so-called box-design where the low drag body-of-revolution design is sacrificed by adding multiple thrusters at different locations and directions. In this case, precise maneuvering can be achieved at the cost of increased drag and the need for an alternate technique to transport the vehicle from the offshore base or an escort ship to the work-zone. In an effort to resolve this trade-off, we have recently proposed to use compact synthetic jets for low speed maneuvering or locomotion of small unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Inspired by the propulsion of cephalopod, we have designed and implemented compact vortex generators for low speed maneuvering, station keeping, and docking of small underwater vehicles. Design, fabrication, thrust optimization, and implementation of such compact actuators are investigated. Three separate UUV have been designed and tested at the University of Colorado. Our recent UUV is equipped with a few compact vortex generators. The capability of such actuators are demonstrated in a submarine "parallel parking" test. More information on Colorado UUVs are available at http://enstrophy.colorado.edu/~mohseni/