LATERAL MOTION OF TOWED UNDERWATER VEHICLE WITHIN THE PROBLEM OF CONTINENTAL SHELF MONITORING

摘要

Lateral motion dynamics was studied of a robotic towed underwater system designed to monitor the continental shelf and consisting of a towed vehicle and a tow wireline. In regard to underwater vehicles of the type in question, it is quite correct to represent spatial motion in the form of a super-position consisting of two flat motions, i.e., longitudinal motion in the vertical plane and lateral motion in the horizontal plane. Dynamics of the towed system longitudinal motion within the monitoring problem was considered in a previously published work by the authors. The present work is its natural continuation and development traditionally accepted in the problems of the underwater vehicles spatial motion mechanics. Diagram of the towed vehicle operation and its hydrodynamic characteristics are presented; besides, mathematical model of a wireline and also a model of the wireline-towed vehicle system lateral motion were constructed. Probable steady system motions were analyzed, issues of balancing, as well as those of the towed vehicle dynamic stability when moving at a constant depth were considered. Results of numerical calculations were provided. The results obtained were considered in conjunction with the results of the authors' above mentioned work related to the towed vehicle longitudinal motion and make it possible to select such system parameters that provide the specified character of spatial movements in the process of monitoring the continental shelf taking into consideration the need to perform turns in the horizontal plane at changing directions and to ensure vertical maneuvers when avoiding underwater obstacles.