• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.493-500
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• 2018

This paper addresses a decentralized observer-based output-feedback formation control problem for multiple unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). The complex nonlinear model for a UUV is feedback-linearized. It is assumed that each UUV in the formation exploits only the information regarding itself and the immediate predecessor, which imposes structural constraints on the formation controller gain matrices. The design condition is presented as a two-stage linear matrix inequalities problem. The synthesized controller demonstrates its own advantages through a numerical example.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.391-398
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• 2024

Accurate positioning is essential for unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) operations, particularly for long-term survey missions. To reduce the inherent positioning errors from the inertial navigation systems of UUVs, or dead reckoning, underwater terrain observations from sonar sensors are typically exploited. Within the framework of pose-graph optimization, we can generate submaps of the seafloor and use them to add loop-closure constraints to the pose graph by determining the best match between the submaps. However, this approach results in error accumulation in long-term operations because the quality of local submaps depends on the dead reckoning. Hence, we can adopt external acoustic positioning systems, such as an ultrashort baseline (USBL), to add global constraints to the existing pose graph. We assume that the acoustic transponder is installed on a UUV and that the acoustic transceiver is equipped in an unmanned surface vehicle trailing the UUV to maintain an acoustic connection between the vehicles. We simulate the terrain and USBL measurements as well as evaluate the performance of the UUV's pose estimation via online pose-graph optimization.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 2017

In this paper, we propose an underwater localization scheme through the fusion of an inertial navigation system (INS) and the received signal strength (RSS) of electromagnetic (EM) wave sensors to guarantee precise localization performance with high sampling rates. In this localization scheme, the INS predicts the pose of the unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) by dead reckoning at every step, and the RF sensors corrects the UUV position functions using the Earth-fixed reference when the UUV is located in underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSN). The localization scheme and state modeling were conducted in the extended Kalman filter framework, and UUV localization experiments were conducted in a basin environment. The scheme achieved reliable localization accuracy during long-term navigation, demonstrating the feasibility of exploiting EM wave attenuation as Earth-fixed reference sensors.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2020

In this study, we investigate surge force, heave force, and pitch moment, which are vertical plane hydrodynamics acting on Manta-type unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), using a model test and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. Assessing the maneuvering hydrodynamic characteristic of an underwater glider in the initial design stage is crucial. Although a model test is the best approach for obtaining the maneuvering hydrodynamic derivatives for underwater vehicles, numerical methods, such as Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, have been used owing to their efficiency in terms of time and cost. Therefore, we conducted an RANS-based CFD calculation and a model test for Manta-type UUVs. In addition, we conducted a validation study through a comparison with a model test conducted at a circular water channel (CWC) in Korea Maritime & Ocean University Furthermore, two RANS solvers (Star-CCM+ and OpenFOAM) were used and compared. Finally, the maneuvering hydrodynamic forces obtained from the static drift and resistance tests for a Manta-type UUV were presented.

• IEMEK Journal of Embedded Systems and Applications
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.157-163
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• 2014

This paper demonstrates the benefit of using MOOS-IvP in the development of control system for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles(UUV). The demand for autonomy in UUVs has significantly increased due to the complexity in missions to be performed. Furthermore, the increased number of sensors and actuators that are interconnected through a network has introduced a need for a middleware platform for UUVs. In this context, MOOS-IvP, which is an open source software architecture, has been developed by several researchers from MIT, Oxford University, and NUWC. The MOOS software is a communication middleware based on the publish-subscribe architecture allowing each application to communicate through a MOOS database. The IvP Helm, which is one of the MOOS modules, publishes vehicle commands using multi-objective optimization in order to implement autonomous decision making. This paper explores the benefit of MOOS-IvP in the development of control software for UUVs by using a case study with an auto depth control system based on self-organizing fuzzy logic control. The simulation results show that the design and verification of UUV control software based on MOOS-IvP can be carried out quickly and efficiently thanks to the reuse of source codes, modular-based architecture, and the high level of scalability.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.58-68
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• 2009

The increased use of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) has led to the development of alternative navigational methods that do not employ acoustic beacons and dead reckoning sensors. This paper describes a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) scheme that uses range sonars mounted on a small UUV. A SLAM scheme is an alternative navigation method for measuring the environment through which the vehicle is passing and providing the relative position of the UUV. A technique for a SLAM algorithm that uses several ranging sonars is presented. This technique utilizes an unscented Kalman filter to estimate the locations of the UUV and surrounding objects. In order to work efficiently, the nearest neighbor standard filter is introduced as the data association algorithm in the SLAM for associating the stored targets returned by the sonar at each time step. The proposed SLAM algorithm was tested by experiments under various three degrees of freedom motion conditions. The results of these experiments showed that the proposed SLAM algorithm was capable of estimating the position of the UUV and the surrounding objects and demonstrated that the algorithm will perform well in various environments.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.3 s.70
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• pp.7-14
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• 2006

This paper discusses the structural design and analysis of a 6,000 meters depth-rated capable deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) system. The UUV system is currently under development by Maritime and Ocean Engineering Research Institute(MOERI), Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI). The UUV system is composed of three vehicles - a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and a Launcher - which include underwater equipment. The dry weight of the system exceeds 3 tons hence it is necessary to carry out the optimal design of structural system to ensure the minimum weight and sufficient space within the frame for the convenient use of the embedded equipments. In this paper, therefore, the structural design and analysis of the ROV and launcher frame system were carried out, using the optimizing process. The cylindrical pressure vessels for the ROV were designed to resist the extreme pressure of 600 bars, based on the finite element analysis. The collapse pressure for the cylindrical pressure vessels was also checked through a theoretical analysis.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.243-250
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• 2002

According to Ocean Korea 21, a basic plan established by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF) of Korea in May 2000, Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering (KRISO) proposed a program for the development of a deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to explore deep sea for scientific purpose. KRISO has launched a project in May 2001 under the support of MOMAF. The deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicle will be applied to scientific researches in deep-sea as well as in shallow water. For operation of underwater vehicles in shallow water near the Korean Peninsula, a special design is required because of strong tidal current. In addition, MOMAF requires the vehicle to be designed for the purpose of long range survey, a long-term observation, and precise works in a specific area. Thus, KRISO has planned to design the system with the functional combination of both ROV and AUV. This paper presents the design of the deep-sea unmanned underwater vehicle.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.1116-1123
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• 2024

-In recent years, unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV) have been vigorously developed, and with the continuous deepening of marine exploration, traditional energy can no longer meet the energy supply. Nuclear energy can achieve a huge and sustainable energy supply. The heat pipe reactor has no flow system and related auxiliary systems, and the supporting mechanical moving parts are greatly reduced, the noise is relatively small, and the system is simpler and more reliable. It is more favorable for the control of unmanned systems. The use of heat pipe reactors in unmanned underwater vehicles can meet the needs for highly compact, long-life, unmanned, highly reliable, ultra-quiet power supplies. In this paper, a heat pipe reactor scheme named UPR-S that can be applied to unmanned underwater vehicles is designed. The reactor core can provide 1 MW of thermal power, and it can operate at full power for 5 years. UPR-S has negative reactive feedback, it has inherent safety. The temperature and stress of the reactor are within the limits of the material, and the core safety can still be guaranteed when the two heat pipes are failed.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.387-393
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• 2017

This paper focuses on a horizontal waypoint tracking and a speed control of large diameter unmanned underwater vehicles (LDUUVs) with X-stern configuration plane. The concerned design problem is converted into an asymptotic stabilization of the error dynamics with respect to the desired yaw angle and surge speed. It is proved that the error dynamics under the proposed control scheme based on the linear control and the feedback linearization can be considered as a cascade system; the cascade system is asymptotically stable if its nominal systems are so. This stability connection enables to separately deal with the waypoint tracking problem and the speed control one. By using the sector nonlinearity, the nominal system with nonlinearities is modeled as a polytopic linear parameter varying (LPV) system with parametric uncertainties. Then, sufficient linear matrix inequality (LMI) conditions for its asymptotic stabilizability are derived in the sense of Lyapunov stability criterion. An example is given to show the validity of the proposed methodology.