Hydrodynamic Optimization of Hull Shape for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)

Abstract

In present times, aquatic robotics has emerged as an exciting and diversified arena with ample utilization of itself carrying out scientific, industrial and technological encroachment. In the advancement of underwater/aquatic robotics, one of the rapidly developed areas as a multidisciplinary field of research is the Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). AUVs are the submerged vehicles which are utilized to carry out such tasks which can be hazardous and preventive for humans.
Applications of AUVs in various fields such as oceanographic research, underwater surveillance, ocean bed survey and many others are gaining importance in recent times. (AUVs) are very useful tools for human assistance. For the successful design of AUVs, there are various factors which are to be considered. Among which hull shape is one of the most influential factors because of the reason that the drag force encountered by the vehicle depends on it.
It is required to analyze the flow around the vehicle body repetitively with change of different parameters of hull shape design to carry out the optimized shape of vehicle body for minimization of drag, which results in low power consumption of long duration of missions. This research utilizes the CFD, as the current advancements in CFD have found remarkable applications in ship hull optimization.