The objective of the project is to provide the scientific and industrial communities with a systematic hydrodynamic optimization study on biomimetic and innovative hydrodynamic configurations for AUGs, specifically designed for ocean surveying. These configurations are conceived to be sufficiently compact to fit in a station-wagon car trunk or in a van and have the best attainable hydrodynamic efficiency and therefore range and endurance, under given design specifications and constraints. The research aims at providing guidelines for the hydrodynamic design of next generation AUGs, supporting the quest for affordable data collection for ocean research and ocean digitalization, and lastly providing paths for technology transfer in favor of small and medium enterprises and industries working in the field of underwater robotics.

The project expected results fall into two categories, namely the innovative hydrodynamic configuration studies and guidelines (including production of the optimized geometries and associated CAD files), and the methodological advancements associated with the simulation-driven design paradigm.