Energy Scavenging Unmanned Surface Vehicle for Long Range Surveillance

FSU and CME developed an ocean-going, energy-scavenging platform for long-range surveillance. The objective was to develop and demonstrate energy scavenging technology for a low cost, autonomous surface vehicle that obtained all its power from the environment. The study included several areas of energy harvesting including renewable sources such as solar and wind, and non-renewable sources such as autophagous batteries and fuel cell for backup power. Energy storage, using battery technology such as lead acid and lithium ion, was studied. Studies narrowed the field of viable solutions to solar and wind energy as primary sources using a combination of electric motor and sail propulsion, solar panels and wind turbine energy scavenging, lithium battery storage and non-renewable batteries for backup power. Systems simulations supported the viability of the platform design and revealed an optimum mix of technologies. During Phase II, CME and FSU will define, document, design, build and test hardware and software subsystems for the platform. We will integrate and test the platform as a system including sea trials. We will study and characterize the performance of the platform and determine how close it needs the requirements of the STTR and what improvements may be needed or desired in future developments BENEFITS: Successful development of this energy scavenging technology will provide a ready stepping stone for incorporation into an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) with greatly extended range and endurance and persistent, station-keeping capabilities.