Patent ID: 8468108
Filing Date: 2013-06-18
Classification: B63H,G05B,G05D,G06F,G06N

Abstract:
1. A method of determining the propulsive efficiency of an underwater vehicle in operation comprising the steps of: providing data representing a plurality of parameters from measurements of one or more aquatic species over a variety of swimming speeds; training a neural network for propulsive efficiency over a range of velocities utilizing said data; computing a sensitivity of one or more of said parameters to propulsive efficiency; selecting a subset of said parameters based on the results of said step of computing; developing a model of propulsive efficiency utilizing said subset of said parameters; implementing said model of propulsive efficiency in a control apparatus; using said control apparatus in real time to compute the propulsive efficiency of an underwater vehicle while in operation over a range of velocities wherein the largest and smallest velocities have a ratio of 10 to 1 or greater.