Using a novel vehicle conceptual design utility to evaluate a long-range, large payload UUV

Compared to traditional labor-intensive manual design approaches, automated conceptual and parametric design for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV´s) can be executed at dramatically lower cost using a novel Automated Vehicle Conceptual Design Utility (AVCDU) developed at Lockheed Martin MS2. This utility automates the UUV spiral design process in a way similar to tools from more established disciplines such as naval architecture and aerospace engineering. Accepting mission and payload descriptions, the AVCDU iterates subsystem sizes to identify a converged vehicle solution which satisfies basic top level requirements. Empirical relations for subsystem performance as a function of size are employed from a database of actual or predicted performance capabilities. The efficiency of the tool is illustrated using an open-ended design problem for a long-range, large-payload vehicle. The large scale of the UUV requires mature conceptual design to identify the preferred stowage option aboard its support platform. Rapidly-developed AVCDU outputs provide physical insight into the performance of three vehicle options for payload stowage: a fixed-length vehicle with internally-stowed payload, an expandable vehicle with internally-stowed payload, and a vehicle with an externally stowed payload. For short missions, the external payload option produces a smaller, cheaper vehicle with more flexible stowage options. Above a critical mission range and speed identified in the utility, the internal-payload vehicles are preferred, and the expandable option is consistently smaller.