Design of a Low-Cost Open-Source Underwater Glider

Abstract

Typical buoyancy engine-based Underwater Gliders are highly-complex and cost-prohibitive, generally ranging in price-point from $50,000 to $250,000. A low-cost, OpenSource Underwater Glider (OSUG) was thus developed as a low-cost data-collection and research tool. This glider, OSUG, is a sub-$1000, 1.2m long, 12kg, and capable of 50-hours of continuous operation. Its efficiency, and usecase feasibility were evaluated. The buoyancy engine is constructed of medical grade syringes that pull in water from the environment to simplify the system and lower costs. Direction of locomotion is controlled by altering pitch and roll via changing the center-of-mass. The system was designed to be primarily three-dimensionally (3D) printed and fully-modular to limit cost and ensure reproducibility.

Research advancements in ocean environmental monitoring systems using wireless sensor networks: a review

“…Sun and Dai [92] proposed a low-power wireless ice-initiated vibration monitoring system that depends on the MEMS dual-axis acceleration sensor (ADXL202), and 3-D Acceleration data was visually displayed and stored. The real vibration observing investigation was performed on the vibration test stage, and the accuracy of the time domain exploratory information was demonstrated from the frequency domain [93]. Moreover, Zhang et al [88] of the "naval submarine institute" gave another strategy for observing sea parameters, for example, ocean target rise, ocean surface tide height, ebb and flow factor, shore seashore separation, and shore seashore slant dependent on MEMS tilt sensor.…”

An Underwater Glider with Muscle—Actuated Buoyancy Control and Caudal Fin Turning

“…Nevertheless, existing actuating methods for the buoyancy and direction adjustment of underwater gliders rely on traditional mechanisms that incorporate geared pumps, hydraulic cylinders, steering engines, and worm-gears with drum-like mechanisms [14][15][16][17][18][19]. To date, only a handful of designs have come forward with innovative methods of actuation [20,21].…”

Design, Construction, and Control for an Underwater Vehicle Type Sepiida

“…[12][13][14] This kind of vehicles can produce movements modifying its center of mass to control the pitch and roll angles, to change the buoyancy it moves fluids by means of a ballast tank. 12,15 Several works related to the design and control of glider-type vehicles can be found in the literature. 16,17 Mahmoudian 18 considers the configuration of the vehicle a bladder that is filled to submerge and empty to emerge, which implies less energy consumption.…”

“…This kind of vehicles can produce movements modifying its center of mass to control the pitch and roll angles, to change the buoyancy it moves fluids by means of a ballast tank refs. [12,15] Several works related to the design and control of glider-type vehicles can be found in the literature refs. [16,17].…”