Study on efficiency and optimization of hybrid underwater glider

Both endurance and horizontal velocity are important specifications of a underwater glider. Tak ing the power consumption per unit weight and per unit horizontal velocity of a glider as the criterion of a glider efficiency was proposed in this paper. The mathematic approach of optimized solution under the cri terion was also introduced, the optimized parameters of a hybrid underwater glider under different condi tions (without propeller, with fixed propeller, with propellers driven by free up-stream or electromotor) were shown as an example, where needed hydrodynamic forces were given by CFD. The results demonstrates that the criterion has definite physical meaning, the optimization method is a simple and effective tool in engi neering designing of a glider. © 2018, Editorial Board of Journal of Ship Mechanics. All right reserved.