The evolution of AUV power systems

Author

Reader, G.T. ; Potter, J. ; Hawley, J.G.

Author_Institution

Windsor Univ., Ont., Canada

Volume

1

fYear

2002

fDate

29-31 Oct. 2002

Firstpage

191

Abstract

The heritage of the AUV and associated power system can be traced back to the 19th century clockwork torpedo. Today power systems based on a multitude of concepts from closed-cycle heat engines to solar charged batteries are available. This evolution of AUV power systems has been enhanced by the growing involvement of the nonmilitary underwater science and engineering sectors since the 1960s. However with the present trend of using AUVs mainly in hydrographic survey tasks, especially in the deep oceans, manufacturers are choosing reliable and affordable battery systems in preference to the many potentially high performance exotic power systems which could provide true autonomy to the vehicles. In this paper the authors trace the evolution of AUV power systems and attempt to provide some insights into this evolution.

Keywords

heat engines; history; military systems; power supplies to apparatus; propulsion; remotely operated vehicles; secondary cells; underwater vehicles; AUV power systems; AUV propulsion system; autonomous underwater vehicle; battery systems; closed-cycle heat engines; deep oceans; hydrographic survey tasks; solar charged batteries; Automotive engineering; Batteries; Clocks; Heat engines; Oceans; Power engineering and energy; Power system reliability; Power systems; Reliability engineering; Solar heating;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

OCEANS '02 MTS/IEEE

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7534-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/OCEANS.2002.1193270

Filename

1193270