Drag characterization in the autonomous benthic explorer

In order for autonomous underwater vehicles to become common tools in oceanography, they must offer suitable survey capabilities. In addition to improving the energy efficiency of the vehicle, efforts can be made to reduce the drag forces. This paper focuses on an experiment developed for the Autonomous Benthic Explorer (ABE) and discusses past and present efforts to extend survey range. The goal is to measure and reduce ABE´s drag through an experiment based on simple engineering principles and make recommendations for improved performance. The result is a low-cost, easy-to-use experiment for studying drag. Initial data shows that the technique is successful, however further refinements will increase the quality of measurements