Meeting Abstract
A typical propulsion system for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) features a rotating shaft and a propeller to forcefully push the hull through the water. While efficient, such a vehicle design can result in reduced maneuverability and agility. The caudal fins of many fish suggest potential designs that could provide reasonable efficiency, as well as improved maneuverability. For example, the heterocercal caudal fins of many sharks, such as Triakis semifasciata, Galeocerdo cuvier, and Isurus oxyrinchus appear to be effective shapes that balance propulsive efficiency and maneuverability. Key aspects of such fins are their shape, flexibility, and the tail-angle between the fin’s lobes and the fish’s body. This presentation discusses efforts to design and optimize an undulating, neutrally-buoyant caudal fin attachment for a common UUV hull-form. Specifically, optimizing the geometric shape and tail-angle for improved flow behavior and maneuverability results in a design similar to actual sharks, such as Triakis semifasciata, Galeocerdo cuvier, and Isurus oxyrinchus. Integration of the biomimetic caudal fin into an existing UUV propulsion system is anticipated to provide superior hydrodynamic performance, efficiency, and maneuverability.
