Underwater Vehicle Charging
Underwater vehicle charging uses a wireless charging system which is also known as an induction system, this phenomenon was first discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831. This system uses electromagnetic induction to provide electricity to portable equipment that can’t be plugged into a power source consistently.
This requires a charging base that transfers energy through inductive coupling, which is when electromagnetics pass from one conductor to another through a changing magnetic field. This concept has not been implemented much until the past decade and could be beneficial to oceanic research.
Utilizing charging stations for both AUV’s and UUV’s would allow for longer trips in return would permit for more research to be gathered from the ocean. There are many possibilities for AUV’s the navy is looking into a device like reconnaissance, ocean floor mapping, mine sweeping and even anti-submarine warfare.
These ideas could be greatly enhanced by a charging station for these AUV and UUV’s so that these systems could stay out in the water longer to be able to carry out their mission until it is completed without having to return to base. The ability of a charging station being readily available where the vehicle could recharge to full battery before being redeployed for its mission is much more convenient and cost effective in the long term.
As some UUVs do not perform underwater tasks with a tether powering the vehicle, onboard batteries are used. These batteries have a limited power life and hinder mission range and time. A potential solution to this problem is underwater docking and recharging stations. This approach allows the UUVs and AUVs to have extended mission duration and time.
The biggest setback for the development of such a station is the lack of a power generation source that would be both efficient and practical to charge these types of vehicles. An offshore wind turbine would be one example of a suitable power generation source for these charging stations.
In order to charge these vehicles, there are a couple of options are being developed. One option is having the vehicle physically dock onto the charging station to recharge the on-board batteries. The second is similar to the way newer generation of cellphones have wireless charging. The development of underwater charging stations would be an extreme benefit to an extraordinary amount of research and military applications not just in the United States but worldwide.