Power and Propulsion System Optimization

Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) are currently limited in the type of missions they can perform. Limited available power limits which sensors can be run or for how long, and also limits the duration and range of the mission. More efficient propulsion systems would increase the power available to the UUV payload. Improved power distribution systems and control systems would also increase the available power and enable the UUV to perform longer, more complex missions. Current power and propulsion system design practices for these systems often rely on conventional design approaches, off-the-shelf component integration, and non-optimized system integration. To design the most efficient systems available and provide UUVs with the power required to perform the desired missions, advanced design and optimization approaches are required. Cornerstone Research Group Inc. (CRG) and the University of Cincinnati (UC) propose to design power and propulsion systems for UUVs optimized to enable more demanding missions. The design approaches used will enable the tradeoffs between multiple performance to be visualized and optimized according to specific mission needs. The team’s approach will enable highly efficient systems that improve the capabilities of the Navy’s UUVs.