Dynamic docking strategies for a bioinspired AUV

AUV docking and recovery pose several challenges operationally. The procedure requires the mothership to stop and remain stationary, an impractical demand in harsh offshore environments; hence a recovery system capable of retrieving an AUV while the mothership is under way is needed. Inspired by the unique attachment behaviour of the remora fish, a dynamic recovery solution, including the vehicle design and the dynamic docking strategy, was previously developed. This study investigates three potential dynamic recovery paths, i.e. Approach, Capture and Chase, aiming to investigate the forces and motions during the docking process. Detailed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed using a body-body interaction model integrated into the Dynamic Fluid Body Interaction (DFBI) model to capture the behaviour of AUV and the mother vehicle during docking. The findings highlight an optimal dynamic recovery path and provide a comprehensive analysis of the forces and motion dynamics experienced by the AUV, accounting for fully coupled fluid-structural interactions. These insights provide a foundation for further development of this innovative underwater dynamic recovery strategy, supporting advancements in AUV design and operation.