| The field or Autonomous Underwater Vehicles is | | | | you created thus slowing it down? Yet one would not |
| growing at a record pace. Small mini-unmanned | | | | have to have it flowing across it, but rather around it. |
| submarines will be able to do a multitude of tasks for | | | | For instance four propellers, which were off set and |
| mankind. These little underwater robotic units will be | | | | away from the AUV itself and as they created |
| able to guard our harbors, help with environmental | | | | bubbles they would make the water less dense and |
| remediation and explore our oceans, even warn us of | | | | easier to go through and the cavity behind the craft |
| impending Tsunamis! | | | | would be filled in quicker meaning if you had one more |
| Is there a way to collect vibrational energy from the | | | | propeller in the rear it would have a better push off |
| water as it moves across the hulls of these | | | | affect? |
| mini-submarine vehicles? Some say yes and others | | | | The race to build the most efficient AUV is on as |
| say that the amount of energy would be too small to | | | | researchers and robotic students work towards the |
| be of any value. Really? Any value you say? What | | | | challenge. One recent think tanker suggested an outer |
| about trickle charging the onboard ion-lithium battery? | | | | skin, which has natural motion, which matches exactly |
| Every little bit helps and efficiency is key. An AUV | | | | what the water flow over the hull wants to do already. |
| floats so it does not use a lot of energy except to | | | | And it will change based on water pressure and |
| propel its self. | | | | speed of flow and relative flows all the time, but an on |
| What if we were to take the friction induced trading of | | | | board computer knows this. To slow down or stop |
| electrons off the surface of the hull to power it up. | | | | you punch in the opposite of the BMP hull-induced |
| Using the buffeting of the water off the propulsion | | | | waves. Then use the resistance to charge the |
| system could work too. Move the propellers to the | | | | batteries of the sub. |
| front use the energy of the buffeting off the surface | | | | Such an idea might be great for diving and then |
| to power up some vibrational energy. Many | | | | stopping while collecting energy for future propulsion. |
| researchers say, sure you could do that and maybe | | | | Many young up and coming robotic students want to |
| you could get the craft to move a little faster so | | | | re-design most of the submarine body and surely |
| what? | | | | some bright mind somewhere will indeed figure it all out |
| Others say if you move the propellers forward then | | | | for us very soon. Will it be you? Think on this in 2006. |
| your craft has to swim against or thru the water flow | | | | |