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Virginia Tech

Dynamic Model of a Small Autonomous Hydrofoil Vessel

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis presents the development of a six degree of freedom nonlinear dynamic model for a single-mast fully submerged hydrofoil vehicle. The aim of the model is to aid in evaluating various model-based controllers for autonomous operation by simulating their performance before implementation in the field. Initially, first principles approach is employed to develop an approximate dynamic model of the vehicle. Prediction of the vehicle motion using the first principles model is then compared with the data from the tow tank experiments to assess the accuracy of the assumptions made in estimating the hydrofoil performance. Additionally, the dynamic model is adjusted to reflect the measured hydrodynamic forces in the tow tank tests. Utilizing the modified dynamic model to simulate the vehicle motion, an initial height controller is designed and tuned in field trials until stable foiling state was achieved. We evaluate the field results and discuss the limitation of employing steady-state tow tank data in establishing the vehicle dynamic model.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Electrical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Electrical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2024

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Moon, Heejip
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Stilwell, Daniel J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Doan, Thinh Thanh
  • Brizzolara, Stefano

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:39360
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/119331

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Moon, Heejip. Dynamic Model of a Small Autonomous Hydrofoil Vessel. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2024. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/119331