Solar and wave powered AUV concept

Performances of solar powered AUV, evidently, depend on available solar energy. Low efficiency of industrially produced solar panels (10-16%) affords sufficient amount of energy at low latitudes and does not at high latitudes of about 50 degrees and more. On the contrary, available wave energy distribution increases with latitude. A similar relation of solar and wave energies applies to their seasonal variations. Hence, combination of solar and wave energies promises more efficient use of the vehicle at all latitudes during the whole year period. Converters of wave energy to electrical energy are usually cumbersome mechanical structures unsuitable for installation on AUV. It is more reasonable to use the wave energy for vehicle's motion. In this case a very fortunate situation occurs. The best shape for solar vehicle being a wing, and it being possible to transform wave oscillations to forward movement using three fixed wings, the demands of efficient solar powered and wave driven vehicles fully coincide. These relationships are considered in the paper and some resulting data are given.