Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Augmenting Maneuverability of UUVs with Cycloidal Propellers

Version 1 : Received: 25 May 2020 / Approved: 26 May 2020 / Online: 26 May 2020 (13:24:29 CEST)
Version 2 : Received: 3 September 2020 / Approved: 5 September 2020 / Online: 5 September 2020 (07:42:19 CEST)

How to cite: Desai, M.; Gokhale, R.; Halder, A.; Benedict, M.; Young, Y.L. Augmenting Maneuverability of UUVs with Cycloidal Propellers. Preprints 2020, 2020050434. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202005.0434.v1 Desai, M.; Gokhale, R.; Halder, A.; Benedict, M.; Young, Y.L. Augmenting Maneuverability of UUVs with Cycloidal Propellers. Preprints 2020, 2020050434. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202005.0434.v1

Abstract

This paper investigates the novel concept of augmenting the maneuverability of underwater vehicles with cycloidal propellers. Cycloidal propellers have the potential of providing agile manoeuvring capabilities to an underwater vehicle such as enabling pure heave motion and spot turns. They will also enable the vehicle to surge in forward and backward directions with equal ease. Such manoeuvres are not possible with the more conventional screw propeller and control fin combinations. Moreover, cycloidal propellers can enable precise dynamic positioning in low speed applications like station-keeping, underwater surveying and maintenance, minesweeping and teaming activities. In this paper, manoeuvring capabilities of an underwater vehicle with conventional screw propeller and control fins only are compared with one augmented with cycloidal propellers. The cases considered include a turning circle manoeuvre, a low speed 180o turn and a low speed heave manoeuvre. A six degrees-of-freedom non-linear hydrodynamic motion prediction model was developed and validated. Simulation results demonstrated that compared to conventional propulsion systems, cycloidal propeller augmented underwater vehicles can be more swift and compact in low speed manoeuvres, making a case for further investigation into this concept.

Keywords

Cycloidal propellers; Unmanned underwater vehicles; Maneuvering

Subject

Engineering, Marine Engineering

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