Design of a Low-Cost Open-Source Underwater Glider

Abstract

Typical buoyancy engine-based Underwater Gliders are highly-complex and cost-prohibitive, generally ranging in price-point from 50,000USD to 250,000USD. A low-cost, Open-Source Underwater Glider (OSUG) was thus developed as a low-cost data-collection and research tool. This glider, OSUG, is a sub-1000USD, 1.2m long, 12kg, and capable of 50-hours of continuous operation. Its efficiency, and use-case feasibility were evaluated. The buoyancy engine is constructed of medical grade syringes that pull in water from the environment to simplify the system and lower costs. Direction of locomotion is controlled by altering pitch and roll via changing the center-of-mass. The system was designed to be primarily three-dimensionally (3D) printed and fully-modular to limit cost and ensure reproducibility.