AUV Multiplane Wing for Seabed Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) designed for seabed sensing are typically elongated and neutrally buoyant, which limits their compactness and maneuverability, and often require additional stabilization mechanisms to maintain position on the seabed.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a multiplane wing configuration with a coupling plate and seismic sensor module to enable the AUV to be grounded stably on the seabed, minimizing length while maximizing maneuverability and stability, using a biplane or box wing arrangement with dihedral angles and thrusters to control pitch and maintain position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the AUV is designed to be neutrally buoyant with centre of buoyancy above centre of gravity, then the AUV can easily ascend or descend and maintain stability, but the AUV requires significant length and additional stabilization mechanisms, reducing compactness and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a multiplane wing configuration (biplane or box wing) that adds vertical dimensionality to the lifting surface. This allows the generation of sufficient lift force in a compact horizontal footprint, enabling the AUV to achieve stability and seabed coupling capability without requiring excessive length in the fore-aft direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the buoyancy parameter from neutral buoyancy to negative buoyancy. By making the AUV negatively buoyant, the vehicle naturally tends to sink and couple with the seabed, eliminating the need for complex active stabilization mechanisms and long elongated structures. The multiplane wings provide the necessary lift during transit, and the coupling plate provides stable seabed contact.
2Speed
If the AUV is designed to be significantly neutrally buoyant, then the AUV can easily ascend or descend, but the AUV loses compactness and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic control of the multiplane wing configuration. During ascent and descent, the wings generate lift to control the rate of vertical movement. During seabed operation, the wings are positioned to provide stability while the negatively buoyant design ensures natural seabed coupling. This dynamic adaptation allows easy vertical movement when needed while maintaining compactness and maneuverability during seabed operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional stabilization mechanisms are added to maintain position on the seabed, then the AUV can maintain stable position despite currents, but the AUV becomes more complex and less maneuverable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates complex active stabilization mechanisms (such as anchors, complex fin systems, or active control systems) by replacing them with a simpler combination of negative buoyancy for seabed coupling and multiplane wings for stability during transit. The coupling plate provides passive stable contact with the seabed, while the multiplane wings provide hydrodynamic stability without requiring active control.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the AUV is elongated with length much greater than width, then the centre of gravity can be maximized distance from centre of pressure, but the AUV loses compactness and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the multiplane wing configuration to generate lift and stability in the vertical dimension rather than relying solely on fore-aft length. The box wing or biplane structure creates a three-dimensional lifting surface that provides hydrodynamic stability without requiring the vehicle to be significantly longer than it is wide, thus maintaining compactness while achieving the necessary stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for a more compact and maneuverable AUV that can efficiently acquire seabed data with improved stability, reducing the need for anchors and enhancing data accuracy by maintaining a stable position despite ocean currents.
Implementation Method 1
a multiplane wing configuration extending from the body to generate a lift force
Implementation Method 2
The coupling plate and multiplane wing may be configured to form a stable platform on the seabed
Implementation Method 3
The autonomous underwater vehicle may further comprise a water thruster. The water thruster may be disposed between the upper wing section and the lower wing section
Implementation Method 4
The sensing module may comprise a seismic sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for sensing at a seabed is provided. The AUV is configured to be grounded in a stationary condition on the seabed. The AUV comprises a body (100), a sensing module configured to acquire data when the vehicle is grounded on the seabed, and a multiplane wing configuration (200) extending from the body. The multiplane wing may be a box wing.