Hybrid glider: motivation, design and evaluation

An auxiliary propulsion module for a 200-m Slocum glider has been presented.The module greatly enhances the operational abilities of underwater gliders by enabling horizontal flight and increased speed capabilities. A simplified hydrodynamic model under the assumption of a zero angle of attack was used to design the module. Using this model, the initial component selection was accomplished through matching the motor, gearbox and measured propeller efficiencies. The propulsion module's performance was confirmed through propulsion tests in the flume tank at MUN.