Spherical AUV Tunnel Thrusters for Tight-Space Wreck Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are not suitable for exploring tight, entanglement-prone and limited-visibility environments like shipwreck interiors due to their large size, heavy weight, and lack of silt-out reduction design characteristics, which restricts their maneuverability and sensor coverage.
Innovation Solution
A spherical AUV design with quad-core internal tunnel thrusters that minimize entanglement and sediment disruption, featuring a spherical hull with inlet and outlet openings, and a propulsion system that draws water from beneath the sphere and vectors it upwards and outwards, reducing downwash and allowing stable hover and efficient sensor coverage without the need for extensive rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional AUV designs are used, then navigation and mapping capabilities are achieved, but the vehicle size and weight prevent operation in tight enclosed spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The AUV is divided into modular components including a spherical hull, tunnel thruster assembly, and sensor suite that can be independently configured. The spherical hull with diameter of 0.5 meters is segmented into functional zones for propulsion, sensing, and payload, enabling compact yet capable design for confined space operation
Solution Approach 2:
The AUV employs a spherical hull geometry instead of traditional elongated shapes. This spherical configuration minimizes the vehicle's footprint to 0.5 meters in diameter while providing omnidirectional maneuvering capability and reducing snagging risks in tight enclosed spaces, directly addressing the weight and size constraints
2Speed
If traditional propeller configurations are used, then propulsion is achieved, but entanglement and sediment disruption occur in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effects of traditional propellers are extracted by replacing them with tunnel thrusters that generate thrust through controlled water flow through tunnel structures. This eliminates the rotating blades that cause entanglement while maintaining propulsion efficiency through vectorable thrust in confined spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The propulsion system uses hydraulic principles with tunnel thrusters that draw water through controlled flow paths and redirect it to generate thrust. The water is drawn from beneath the sphere and vectored upwards and outwards, creating propulsion without mechanical propellers that could entangle or disrupt sediment in enclosed environments
3Loss of information
If extensive vehicle rotation is used for sensor coverage, then comprehensive mapping is achieved, but sediment disturbance and entanglement risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical hull provides a stable, omnidirectional platform that requires minimal rotation for sensor coverage. Sensors mounted on the spherical surface can achieve comprehensive 360-degree coverage through small angular adjustments rather than extensive vehicle rotation, reducing sediment disturbance in confined spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical AUV integrates multiple sensor types (acoustic, optical, electromagnetic) and propulsion capabilities into a single omnidirectional platform. This multi-functional design allows comprehensive environmental mapping through sensor arrays that can detect objects in all directions simultaneously, eliminating the need for extensive rotation
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
The AUV effectively navigates tight spaces with reduced risk of entanglement and sediment disturbance, achieving comprehensive sensor coverage and stable operation in enclosed submerged environments.
Implementation Method 1
The propulsion system draws water from beneath the sphere and vectors it upwards and outwards, reducing downwash and allowing stable hover
Implementation Method 2
The spherical AUV design... allowing stable hover
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The AUV includes a frame and tunnel thrusters for propelling and orientating the AUV, where the tunnel thrusters have inlets and outlets, each of outlets being directed in a different orientation, and are mounted to the frame. The AUV further includes fasteners for connecting the frame to a hull, where the fasteners have an orientation that is substantially parallel to the tunnel thrusters. The hull has a substantially spherical shape and further includes (1) a bottom plate with inlet openings, (2) a top plate with outlet openings, where the top plate and the bottom plate are affixed to the fasteners and hold plate rings of the hull in place, and (3) each of the plate rings that further includes a corresponding retention ring and corresponding central plates.