Development of underwater glider for longterm virtual mooring

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24246146
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Naval and maritime engineering
• Research Institution: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: ASAKAWA Kenichi 独立行政法人海洋研究開発機構, 海洋工学センター, シニアスタッフ (40344288)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 水中グライダー / 長期定域観測 / 地球環境変動 / 浮力エンジン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, a new small sized and light weighted buoyancy engine for underwater gliders was developed and was mounted on the prototype underwater glider for long-term virtual mooring called ‘Tsukuyomi.’ The basic control software which is necessary for long-term virtual mooring was also developed. The performance of the developed underwater glider was evaluated by long tank tests and sea experiments. As a result, it was confirmed that the developed underwater glider has the basic ability necessary for long-term virtual mooring. As for the buoyancy engine, by using a commercially available small swash plate type axial piston pump, its size and weight became about half of the previously equipped one, and the pumping speed became more than one-digit faster.

Free Research Field

海洋工学