Bio inspired autonomous underwater vehicles
Melike Kurt (Maritime Engineering) and Stephen Turnock (Maritime Engineering)
The next generation of underwater vehicles will need greater manoeuvrability and yet achieve ever higher levels of energy efficiency. There are many examples across nature of alternate approaches to the use of a rigid hull and propeller so often adopted even at smaller scale. Flexible whole body propulsion like an eel, pulse jet and deforming body like squid or flapping fins. All offer exciting opportunities to be inspired and yet what is needed will be creative design, imaginative use of alternative materials, manufacturing capabilities, sensors and control systems and above all practical testing and refinement. You will be based in the Maritime Robotics Lab at the university. It has a long history of innovative vessel design, excellent knowledge of fluid-structure interaction and above all an excellent test environment in the Boldrewood towing tank (138 m long, 6 m wide, 3.5 m deep equipped with a crewed carriage with speeds upto 10 m/s adn 12 x 0.5 m controllable wave paddles across the west end)
Key skills: Some of; engineering design; materials and manufacturing particularly 3D printing; system build; applied control engineering; sensor integration; fluid dynamic testing
Eligibility: UK rates (subject to fund availability)
Start date: October 2023 (subject to fund availability)
Application deadline: August 2023
CIVIL, MARITIME
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
Explore our website:
Contact us:
+44(0)23 8059 5000
+44(0)23 8059 3131
University of Southampton
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
CIVIL, MARITIME
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
University of Southampton
Explore our website:
Contact us:
+44(0)23 8059 5000
+44(0)23 8059 3131
University of Southampton
University Road
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department
© 2020 Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering Department