Abstract
The previously developed method of estimating the propulsion performance of a UUV was applied to the high speed UUV, which is propelled by commercial thrusters. The thrusters were selected with an overdesign mentality; in other words, their capacities were excessive. At that point, the designer's concern was focused on a question regarding at what rpm the UUV could reach the design speed. Because the developed method required thrust coefficient curve data, the researchers asked for the POW data of the thrusters from the manufacturer. From the data, the researchers extracted the thrust coefficient and estimated the rpm value of design speed for the UUV. Finally, the researchers compared the estimated value and the result from a self-propulsion test using a VPMM (Vertical planar motion mechanism) test at a towing tank in MOERI.
