Session: 06-14-02 Underwater Vehicles and Design Technology II

Paper Number: 80349

80349 - Design of a Prototype Renewably-Powered Offshore AUV Servicing Platform 

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) offer the ability to provide persistent and expanded ocean observations and measurements. The battery capacity of AUVs, however, currently limits the range and duration of missions. Typical battery endurance on commercially available AUVs is around eight hours. At the same time, ocean sensor payloads are limited by the processing power onboard, which is also restricted by the vehicle’s battery capacity. These limitations require that AUVs be frequently recovered to recharge and offload data, a process that often necessitates the assistance of a support vessel and crew, costing in excess of $30,000 per day. The Platform for Expanding AUV exploRation to Longer ranges (PEARL), can extend the range and endurance of AUVs (e.g. from 8 hours to 240 hours), while reducing data latency and operating costs. PEARL is an autonomous floating docking station which simultaneously provides AUV battery recharging and data uplink via the new generation of high-bandwidth low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations. PEARL can ensure worldwide connectivity and control of AUVs, allowing for near-real-time underwater data from across the globe. With a recharging system for AUVs predicted to reduce AUV operating costs by save 35%, PEARL utilizes solar power paired with integrated battery modules to harvest power during daytime hours, allowing reliable, on-demand recharging of vehicles and data transfer, effectively extending AUV endurance and return.

This paper details the design of a 1:2 Froude-scale prototype used to test key concepts of solar energy generation and usage, data logging, data transmission, and autonomous control. The platform was deployed and anchored at Deep Pond, located in Orleans, MA from October 17, 2020 – April 15, 2021. The design of PEARL consists of an upper floating platform and a lower damping plate, connected by structural spars. The floating platform houses solar panels and a satellite terminal. The submerged damping plate reduces heave motion of the platform and is a promising location for AUV docking modules. Furthermore, the floating platform is shaped like a hexagon, which can enable multiple servicing platforms to connect together for increased power and data transfer capabilities. Detailed design analysis presented in this paper is the basis for the ongoing development of a parameterized model of PEARL and subsequent multidisciplinary design optimization of the system.

Presenting Author: Maha Haji Cornell University

Authors:

Maha Haji Cornell University
Jimmy Tran Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Luke Woodcock Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Olivier De Weck Massachusetts Institute of Technology