I-Corps: Bio-Inspired Underwater Vessels for Coastal Monitoring, Inspection and Station-Keeping

I-Corps：用于海岸监测、检查和站位维护的仿生水下容器

• 批准号: 1840022
• 负责人: Oscar Curet
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: Florida Atlantic University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2018-07-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1840022&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Bio; Inspired; Underwater; Vessels

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to understand the problems that the industry and federal agencies face during the operation of underwater vehicles for applications such as, ocean monitoring, inspection of coastal structures, rescue missions and/or hydrographic survey. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are key for multiple underwater missions including detecting and mapping submerged wrecks, ocean bed-floor, polluted water, as well as surveillance of coastal zones and coastal structures. In many circumstances AUVs are preferred over conventional towed instruments or marine surface vehicles because AUVs can get closer to the area of interest, they can cover large areas without constant monitoring or hover hazardous areas without putting at risk humans life. Although current AUVs have many capabilities, one main limitation is their inability to perform precise station-keeping which allows the vehicle to hold its position and adjust for currents. New technology in underwater propulsion will permit the development and control of a new generation of highly maneuverable vessels that have to operate in more challenging environments. The proposed work is expected to increase the partnership between academia, marine industries and national defense agencies. In addition, it will promote the progress of science and national security using bio-inspired technology.This I-Corps project focuses in the propulsion technology and control strategy for AUVs that needs to operate in tight space, low-speed with high mobility and perform station-keeping missions. Bio-inspired undulating fin can provide multiple advantages including: superior maneuverability to control forward motion and directional maneuver with a single undulating fin; precise maneuvers suitable for station-keeping and maneuvers in tight spaces; reduce risk to get tangled in marine plants and ropes with less impact on the marine ecosystem; relative low speed with likely lower acoustic signature.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是了解该行业和联邦机构在水下机器人操作过程中面临的问题，这些应用包括海洋监测、沿海结构检查、救援任务和/或水文测量。自主水下机器人(AUV)是执行多项水下任务的关键，包括探测和绘制水下沉船、海底、受污染水域的地图，以及监视海岸带和沿海结构物。在许多情况下，AUV比传统的拖曳仪器或海洋表面航行器更受欢迎，因为AUV可以更接近感兴趣的区域，它们可以覆盖大片区域而不需要持续监测，或者在危险区域盘旋而不会危及人类生命。尽管目前的AUV具有许多功能，但一个主要限制是它们无法执行精确的站位保持，从而允许车辆保持位置并根据电流进行调整。水下推进的新技术将允许开发和控制新一代高度机动性的船只，这些船只必须在更具挑战性的环境中运行。这项拟议的工作预计将增加学术界、海洋行业和国防机构之间的伙伴关系。此外，它还将利用生物启发技术促进科学进步和国家安全。这个i-Corps项目专注于需要在狭小空间、低速和高机动性并执行站位任务的AUV的推进技术和控制策略。受生物启发的波浪鳍可以提供多种优势，包括：使用单个波浪鳍控制向前运动和定向机动的卓越机动性；适合在狭小空间中保持站位和机动的精确机动；减少与海洋植物和绳索缠绕的风险，对海洋生态系统的影响较小；相对较低的速度和可能较低的声学信号。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。