Innovation in underwater Test & Evaluation (T&E) is vital. As new technologies emerge, the modernisation of underwater T&E will be key to ensuring that new and novel platforms are properly regulated and safe to use. But how can T&E evolve to support new platforms that are unlike anything we’ve seen before?
Read the first two articles “Future of Underwater Test & Evaluation Part 1 – The Adoption of Digital Engineering” and “Future of Underwater T&E Part 2 – Uncrewed Platforms will Proliferate”
In this 3rd article, we explore how underwater T&E will need to evolve to meet future needs.
Novel designs will require different kinds of testing
A range of animal-inspired (biomimetic) propulsion mechanisms offer unusual alternatives to the mechanical turbines in use today, and could be far more appropriate for the propulsion of small UUVs for example. As an example, Festo’s AquaJelly is ‘an artificial autonomous jellyfish with an electric drive unit and an intelligent adaptive mechanism that emulates swarming behaviour.’ EvoLogics’ Bionic Observation and Survey System (BOSS), Manta Ray, is described as an ‘experimental bionic vehicle’, is modelled on the manta ray, and can move through water by the wing-like movements of its ‘pectoral fins’. The third example is Animal Dynamics’ Malolo, which uses a tuned flapping foil for propulsion. Its developers claim that it ‘has the potential to be more efficient than a propeller, and deliver a higher thrust coefficient over a greater range of speeds than a propeller can.’ Both AquaJelly and Manta Ray are swarm-capable.
However, how do you test and evaluate a flipper, or an air/water pump? Time will eventually tell with many challenges to overcome. New evaluation capabilities will be required to predict and measure noise and performance with confidence at the model scale. The wakes from flapping paddle type solutions, particularly with interacting fins (which can be non-linear) can create challenges for analytical modelling, and for moving from model scale to the larger scale. Work may need to be done to further develop Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) or to bring in other novel techniques, such as Fluid Structure Interaction.
As novel designs are created, novel solutions will undoubtedly follow.
Assuring Frontline Capability through Deployed T&E
Looking to the future, naval operations are ever evolving as operational theatres and requirements change. Regularly bringing maritime assets back from their forward stations to a fixed range for testing puts a strain on forward deployed forces. One way to negate this is by using deployable T&E and training capabilities that allow units and task groups to remain deployed for longer periods.
Essentially, instead of taking the platform to the range, the range is taken to the platform or alternatively the platform carries the range within it.
Such deployable T&E facilities might not be able to provide as high fidelity data as specialised fixed ranges, but if suitably integrated with prior data from these fixed ranges, could allow a frontline commander a more timely level of operational assurance or highlight emerging issues that require specialist facilities to assess further. Examples include deployable signature measurement (acoustic, IR, RCS, magnetic signature, etc.) and deployable training (deployable/portable ranges, novel threat representation, etc.) which could help to provide operational capability ‘top-ups’, mid deployment.
A good example of such a capability is a deployable underwater tracking range. Such a range provides a temporary instrumented water space for the test and evaluation of Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) working in conjunction with conventional platforms, the operational testing of new software deployed to UUVs for new missions or for the continued training of sonar operators with the range instrumentation providing the ground truth for the target position and its manoeuvring.
Across this series of articles, we have captured some thoughts and suggestions about how we believe T&E will need to evolve to address the challenges and opportunities that new and emerging technologies will present. We are in a very exciting, and rapidly changing, world where digital innovation will drive the pace for the adoption of these new technologies. T&E tools and techniques will need to evolve at pace to continue to give the military user the confidence in the capabilities at their disposal. Achieving this will require a seamless integration across digital engineering, modelling, and simulation, whilst not losing sight of the critical role of focused sub-scale and full-scale live test events, which ultimately provide the designer and the user the confidence they need.
