A feasibility study of design and development of submersible tube launched UAV-robot

Abstract

This paper documents the design, development and operation of a submersible tube launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with launching capability which could be launched from an unmanned underwater robot or a submarine to begin its' mission(s) and to be able to achieve a desired mission scenario. In the past decades, UAV-systems have become useful for a number of applications including, security, farming, search and rescue missions, safety and surveillance within critical areas or vulnerable disaster locations (e.g. Nuclear disasters, Earthquake and Tornado sites). In addition, the major mission of the UAVs within maritime environment is to determine information to support operators on critical situations. In this research study the integration of the body design concepts, déployable wings mechanisms, wing's shapes and material selection of such UAVs has been investigated. The focus of this paper is a feasibility study on design of a small UAV-robot with capability of being launched from a tube-shaped container which would be released from an underwater launcher and to be set stable in the surface of the water before deployment.