With the maturing of autonomous technology and better accessibility, there has been a growing interest in the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The deployment of AUVs for under-ice marine science research in the Antarctic is one such example. However, a higher risk of AUV loss is present during such endeavors due to the extreme operating environment. To control the risk of loss, existing risk analyses approaches tend to focus more on the AUV's technical aspects and neglect the role of soft factors, such as organizational and human influences. In addition, the dynamic and complex interrelationships of risk variables are also often overlooked due to uncertainties and challenges in quantification. To overcome these shortfalls, a hybrid fuzzy system dynamics risk analysis (FuSDRA) is proposed. In the FuSDRA framework, system dynamics models the interrelationships between risk variables from different dimensions and considers the time-dependent nature of risk while fuzzy logic accounts for uncertainties. To demonstrate its application, an example based on an actual Antarctic AUV program is presented. Focusing on funding and experience of the AUV team, simulation of the FuSDRA risk model shows a declining risk of loss from 0.293 in the early years of the Antarctic AUV program, reaching a minimum of 0.206 before increasing again in later years. Risk control policy recommendations were then derived from the analysis. The example demonstrated how FuSDRA can be applied to inform funding and risk management strategies, or broader application both within the AUV domain and on other complex technological systems.
The maturing of autonomous technology has fostered a rapid expansion in the use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). To prevent the loss of AUVs during deployments, existing risk analysis approaches tend to focus on technicalities, historical data and experts’ opinion for probability quantification. However, data may not always be available and the complex interrelationships between risk factors are often neglected due to uncertainties. To overcome these shortfalls, a hybrid fuzzy system dynamics risk analysis (FuSDRA) is proposed. The approach utilises the strengths while overcoming limitations of both system dynamics and fuzzy set theory. Presented as a three-step iterative framework, the approach was applied on a case study to examine the impact of crew operating experience on the risk of AUV loss. Results showed not only that initial experience of the team affects the risk of loss, but any loss of experience in earlier stages of the AUV program have a lesser impact as compared to later stages. A series of risk control policies were recommended based on the results. The case study demonstrated how the FuSDRA approach can be applied to inform human resource and risk management strategies, or broader application within the AUV domain and other complex technological systems.
The aim of the present study was to predict propeller performance during propeller-ice interaction. Total loads acting on a propeller blade during propeller-ice interaction were assumed to consist of three major components: separable hydrodynamic loads, inseparable hydrodynamic loads, and ice milling loads. A panel method and an empirical formula were used for the hydrodynamic load calculations and the ice contact load calculations, respectively. This empirical model was implemented into a numerical panel code. The numerical prediction model for the ice loads including the detailed implementation is described, and the results are compared with experimental results.
The use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for various applications have grown with maturing technology and improved accessibility. The deployment of AUVs for under-ice marine science research in the Antarctic is one such example. However, a higher risk of AUV loss is present during such endeavours due to the extremities in the Antarctic. A thorough analysis of risks is therefore crucial for formulating effective risk control policies and achieve a lower risk of loss. Existing risk analysis approaches focused predominantly on the technical aspects, as well as identifying static cause and effect relationships in chain of events leading to AUV loss. Comparatively, the complex interrelationships between risk variables and other aspects of risk such as human errors have received much lesser attention. In this paper, a systems-based risk analysis framework facilitated by system dynamics methodology is proposed to overcome existing shortfalls. To demonstrate usefulness of the framework, it is applied on an actual AUV program to examine the occurrence of human error during Antarctic deployment. Simulation of the resultant risk model showed an overall decline in human error incident rate with the increase in experience of the AUV team. Scenario analysis based on the example provided policy recommendations in areas of training, practice runs, recruitment policy and setting of risk tolerance level. The proposed risk analysis framework is pragmatically useful for risk analysis of future AUV programs to ensure the sustainability of operations, facilitating both better control and monitoring of risk.
<span lang="EN-US">Particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based algorithms are suitable for path planning of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) due to their high computational efficiency. However, such algorithms may produce sub-optimal paths or require higher computational load to produce an optimal path. This paper proposed a new approach that improves the ability of PSO-based algorithms to search for the optimal path while maintaining a low computational requirement. By hybridizing with differential evolution (DE), the proposed algorithms carry out the DE operator selectively to improve the search ability. The algorithms were applied in an offline AUV path planner to generate a near-optimal path that safely guides the AUV through an environment with a priori known obstacles and time-invariant non-uniform currents. The algorithm performances were benchmarked against other algorithms in an offline path planner because if the proposed algorithms can provide better computational efficiency to demonstrate the minimum capability of a path planner, then they will outperform the tested algorithms in a realistic scenario. Through Monte Carlo simulations and Kruskal-Wallis test, SDEAPSO (selective DE-hybridized PSO with adaptive factor) and SDEQPSO (selective DE-hybridized Quantum-behaved PSO) were found to be capable of generating feasible AUV path with higher efficiency than other algorithms tested, as indicated by their lower computational requirement and excellent path quality.</span>
We have developed an adaptive sampling algorithm for an Explorer autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to conduct in-situ analysis of acoustic measurements to perform autonomous oil plume detection and tracking. The methodology of the tracking phase involves ongoing analysis of the detected plume, assessing target validity and proximity for AUV decision-making for plume mapping. We previously introduced the bumblebee flight path, a new biomimetic search pattern designed to maximize the spatial coverage in the oil plume detection phase. This paper focuses on a new tracking strategy as the key adaptive stage in our plume delineation. For initial development we used a 360-degree scanning sonar sensor model. Simulations were done with different plume models to assess the performance of the developed adaptive sampling algorithm. A convergence study demonstrated that the algorithm could successfully track the boundary of a non-regular shaped/patchy oil plume at up to a 0.05Hz sampling frequency. A sensitivity study identified the correlations between plume feature complexity and the anticipated range of acoustic measurement update delays. The decision-making architecture consists of three separate components which implements either proximity or boundary following control and contributes to the final decision on the next desired heading of the vehicle. A weight ratio, that determined the relative allocation of each component, was varied to study its impact on the tracking performance of the AUV. The novelty of our approach is in addressing the discontinuous and patchy nature of realistic oil plumes. Our sampling algorithm and its performance in simulations is a significant step beyond the practical limitations of existing gradient-following methods because it accounts for the oil patches and droplets which gradient-following algorithms do not.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.