Evaluation of Glider Coatings against Biofouling for Improved Flight Performance
Abstract
Autonomous buoyancy-driven gliders are becoming an increasingly important platform for the Navy for semi-continuous oceanographic observations. These observations are central to enhancing ocean model forecasting, underwater communications, underwater imaging, and a host of other applications. In order to provide these functions, it is critical that the flight characteristics be maintained for duration, spatial coverage and navigation. Currently, a number of the glider systems in use suffer in flight performance from biofouling, and this problem is exacerbated if the vehicle spends more time near coastlines or near the surface where there is enhanced biological activity. Here, we propose to leverage an existing ONR biofouling program (Code 34) to examine and evaluate the coatings of the 3 glider types currently in use. These evaluations will be compared to each other as well as the nontoxic coatings being evaluated under the biofouling program. These results have the potential to significantly increase the endurance and performance of gliders with direct benefits to the Navy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA542469
Entities
People
- Dean E Wendt
- Mark A. Moline
Organizations
- California Polytechnic State University