Oceanographic submersibles--Automatic control

Over recent years, the trend in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) design has been to reduce vehicle size and cost. On board navigation systems are both large and expensive so alternate solutions for vehicle positioning are required. The thesis explores the performance of a passive platform, the Ambient Noise Sonar (ANS), in remotely detecting, localizing and tracking submersible vessels. This task is achieved by exploiting communication signatures emitted by the moving submersible. The utility modem integrated on the AUV can be operated in a PSK and a MFSK mode. It was demonstrated that the ANS successfully tracks AUVs in both cases. First, the thesis presents the sonar beamformer and shows its potential for tracking by using the AUV communication signals. It describes a scheme developed to enhance the processor performance in a multi-target configuration and clutter. Then, it discusses promising tracking results from experiments conducted in summer and fall 1998, off the coast of South Florida.

The development of a Flight Control System for a non-linear six degree of freedom model of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle is described. Heading, pitch and depth are regulated by three independent Fuzzy Logic Controllers (FLCs). Numerical methods are used to tune rule bases to control tables that are based on the minimum time characteristics of the model. Setpoint errors are eliminated using fuzzily constrained integrators. A scheme to vary control policy with forward speed is also detailed. System stability is evaluated using cell-to-cell mapping. A variable structure fuzzy heading controller is designed for an unstable non-linear model of an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle. Scheduling of scaling parameters accommodates changes in forward speed as predicted by thruster RPM and angular distance turned. This FLC combines bang-bang and linear type control to respond more rapidly and robustly than a gain scheduled linear PID controller.

This project addresses the simulation, control and optimization of underwater vehicle performance. An analytical model of underwater vehicle motion has been developed. This model is based on a set of six degree of freedom nonlinear differential equations of motion. These equations incorporate inertial, hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, gravity and thruster forces to define the vehicle's motion. The forces are calculated and the equations of motion solved using a finite difference method of integration. An automatic closed loop control strategy has been developed and integrated into the motion model. The controller determines control plane deflection and thruster output based on sensor provided input, maneuver request and control gain constants. The motion model simulates the effects of these controller requests on the vehicle motion. The controller effects are analyzed and an optimal set of control gains is determined. These optimal gains are determined based on a quantitative comparison of a pre-defined Performance Index (PI) function. The PI is a function of critical performance values, i.e., energy consumption, and user defined weighted constants. By employing an iteration technique the PI is minimized to provide an optimal set of control gains.

Any Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) software system is expected to be dynamic due to changes in mission goals, addition of new hardware, implementation of new algorithms, etc. Thus, for a successful AUV program, it is important to have a carefully and properly designed software architecture that is flexible enough to accommodate future changes. The AUV program in the Ocean Engineering Department of Florida Atlantic University has undergone significant development over the past one and a half years to achieve a flexible software system. This flexible architecture should also help in performing diverse kinds of AUV missions with minimal reconfiguration. The focus of this thesis work is to perform m evaluation of the past and present software systems used in our AUVs, and to describe the implementation details that were necessary for the migration of the past software system to a newer, more flexible and powerful software architecture. Another purpose of the thesis is also to describe the design philosophy behind the new architecture and its impact on the AUV program.