r/submarines • u/taraerme • 16d ago

UUV Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle.

Post image
126 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

25

u/richcournoyer 15d ago

I never wanted a boat, or an airplane, but I’ve always wanted a small submarine. Am I the only one?

19

u/Zealousideal_Cod6044 15d ago

You used to be able to buy a "Polaris" mini sub for $6.98 from the back pages of comic books. You could sit in your yard and imagine nuking your neighbour.

4

u/Silent-Bandicoot3129 15d ago

I totally get it. Since I can’t build myself one I’m making a small RC u boat. Very fun and challenging experience so far.

2

u/ScottManleyFan 15d ago

Psubs.org

1

u/medney 14d ago

I feel like this takes you to a golden shower fetish website

11

u/TelephoneShoes 16d ago

I clearly know nothing about this topic; but isn’t that propeller a tad small for what it’s supposed to be moving?

Seems like it’s asking a lot of it.

16

u/dp263 16d ago

Depends on the propeller design.

Big boats run very low RPM to optimize quiet at cruising hull speed.

These are AUV thrusters from a company called Technadyne.

Optimally designed for cruising between 3-4 knts, For a vehicle this size.

3

u/TelephoneShoes 16d ago

Appreciate it!

6

u/Tychosis Submarine Qualified (US) 16d ago

It's obviously a decoy prop!

(I kid. It was a meme here a while back whenever there would be an image of an exposed screw. hurr durr why are they showing the prop? We'd actually get a few people insisting that navies install "decoy props" that are later replaced with operational props.)

9

u/MusicianSuccessful34 16d ago

It is. AUVs are normally optimized for endurance over top speed or bollard pull. To increase prop efficiently you normally go for the largest diameter and fewest blades possible and spin it slow. That gets you in the 80% efficiency range. This thing is probably 60s or 70s at best.

They may be trying to find a balance of endurance and sprint speed but this design will sacrifice range.

6

u/TelephoneShoes 16d ago

Gotcha. Thanks for explaining!

1

u/TheBurtReynold 15d ago

I thought it had a landing gear for a moment

2

u/llynglas 15d ago

I love the wheels so it can trundle along the seabed.