Depth-Average Velocity from Spray Underwater Gliders

Routing strategies for underwater gliders

rapidly reach a specified waypoint or to maximize the ability to map a measured field, both in the presence of significant currents. For rapid transit in a frozen velocity field, direct minimization of travel time provides a trajectory ‘‘ray’’ equation. A simpler routing algorithm that requires less information is also discussed. Two approaches are developed to maximize the mapping ability, as ...

Stabilization and Coordination of Underwater Gliders

An underwater glider is a buoyancy-driven, fixedwing underwater vehicle that redistributes internal mass to control attitude. We examine the dynamics of a glider restricted to the vertical plane and derive a feedback law that stabilizes steady glide paths. The control law is physically motivated and with the appropriate choice of output can be interpreted as providing input-output feedback line...

Dynamics & Control of Underwater Gliders Ii: Motion Planning and Control

This paper describes an underwater glider motion control system intended to enhance locomotive efficiency by reducing the energy expended by vehicle guidance and control. In previous work, the authors derived an approximate analytical expression for steady turning motion by applying regular perturbation theory to a sophisticated vehicle dynamic model. Using these steady turn solutions, includin...

Persistent ocean monitoring with underwater gliders: Adapting sampling resolution

Ryan N. Smith School of Engineering Systems, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia e-mail: [email protected] Mac Schwager GRASP Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 e-mail: [email protected] Stephen L. Smith Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada e-mail: stephen.smi...

Dynamics & Control of Underwater Gliders I: Steady Motions