Jia-Wang LI’s research while affiliated with Northwestern Polytechnical University and other places

The trajectory-tracking control problem is investigated for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) moving in the vertical plane using an internal point mass and a rear thruster as actuators. Combined with the dynamics of the point mass, the AUV is modeled as an underactuated system. A Lyapunov-based tracking controller is proposed by using backstepping approach to stabilize the error dynamics and force the position errors to a small neighborhood of the origin. Simulation results validate the proposed tracking approach.

An optimized methodology to design a more robust torpedo shell is proposed. The method has taken into account reliability requirements and controllable and uncontrollable factors such as geometry, load, material properties, manufacturing processes, installation, etc. as well as human and environmental factors. The result is a more realistic shell design. Our reliability optimization design model was developed based on sensitivity analysis. Details of the design model are given in this paper. An example of a torpedo shell design based on this model is given and demonstrates that the method produces designs that are more effective and reliable than traditional torpedo shell designs. This method can be used for other torpedo system designs.