Abstract

The purpose of the project is to create a vehicle that is capable of gliding underwater and collecting data. Inspired by other underwater vehicles, Team 502 seeks to simulate an underwater glider. The simulations will be used to then create a physical model. The glider will be used to measure the pressure and temperature of the water. The data collected by the glider echoes the operation of gliders in other industries. The defense industry makes use of underwater gliders for intelligence collection, using long endurance vehicles to collect vital information of interest for national security. Another field that they have seen use in is oceanography. Gliders are useful for collecting data that would be difficult for a human to capture. Gliders are employed to take measurements where they can’t, including temperature and pressure data for research purposes. Team 502 used computer simulations to examine multiple designs. Simulations were done using MATLAB software to calculate the optimal path for glider motion. To control the glider's movement, sensors are used to control both dive planes and motors designed by the team. Dive planes were simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to assess their performance. The glider has a unique dual-hull setup that helps counteract any rolling that it may experience underwater. It is 3D printed and coated with epoxy. This seal keeps the glider from leaking. The glider performs in both swimming pool and freshwater environments by following a constant rising and falling motion similar to a sine wave. It functions down to a depth of 10 feet and completes assigned tasks underwater before resurfacing. The glider collects pressure and temperature data during its dive and stores it for use later.