Development of a semi-submersible unmanned surface craft

Under the Ice Ocean Sentinel System (IOSS) project the Autonomous Ocean Systems Lab (AOSL) of Memorial University has begun the process of producing a prototype vessel utilizing a semi-submersible single strut hull form. The prototype has been designed to provide tunable stability characteristics, low relative heave motions, and increased overall survivability when compared to current lab scale autonomous surface craft platforms. The vehicle´s primary mission will be to operate as a deployment platform for oceanographic data collection and ice reconnaissance. The secondary purpose of the prototype is to provide proof of concept and performance data which will be used to validate the developed numerical models. The prototype vehicle will also provide valuable lessons learned to be applied for a full scale vessel design. Although the vehicle has been developed as a large scale model, it has been outfitted with a full electronics system including controls, sensors and payloads. This prototype replaces the traditional tank testing of a model generally associated with new hull designs. The design of the hull, launch and recovery considerations, and propulsion power estimates are discussed. The paper also describes the process through which the design was completed, the current status of the project, and the expected outcomes of the prototype development project.