These are the solar panels used on the SAUV II. They are discontinued now. Looks like you can get comparable ones for around $400 now.
More on the BP585 Solar panels. They are listed for around $500 a piece.
Found the below information here
The BP-585 is made with 36 of BP Solar's high efficiency laser-grooved buried-grid (LGBG) cells, with an efficiency of conversion of light to electricity of almost 17%, compare to an industry average of between 12.5% and 15%. These are the highest efficiency solar cells available in volume commercial production today. The increase in electrical efficiency is achieved by using a laser to cut a fine grid, deep into the body of a silicon wafer, rather than employing the usual silk-screen process, to print a grid of metallic paste upon the wafer surface, which usually obscures some 10% of the wafer's active surface area. They fill these grooves with conducting metal, by an electro-plating process. Because the grid is buried deep within the silicon, the collection of electrons is enhanced. This, combined with the fact that the grid takes up very little surface area of the cell, raises the electrical efficiency to some 17%. Modules assembled from LGBG cells, are produced at BP Solar's manufacturing plant in Madrid. They provide an output of up to 90 watts from a conventionally-sized 36 cell configuration. In addition to their class-leading high efficiency (which is particularly valuable where roof-space is restricted) LGBG modules deliver greater power per kW installed than rival products, by prolonging the daylight hours over which useful power can be generated. The BP-585's high efficiency translates into cost savings on mounting structures, especially on trackers. The new, larger, hinged junction box with built-in bypass diodes features a cage clamp mechanism to reduce wiring time and ensure secure connections with bare wire. Each module comes with two waterproof cable clamps, so no special module interconnects are required. The face of the module is tempered, high light transmission glass and the rear is a triple lamination of PVF, polyester and PVF. Includes bypass diodes.
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del.icio.usThe SAUV II is the second generation Solar Autonomous Underwater Vehicles from the joint work of Falmouth Scientific, Inc., Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute and Technology Systems Inc. and some Navy involvement.
It is a pretty impressive craft. It says you can buy them from Falmouth Scientific...wonder what the cost would be? Looks expensive and hi-end.
It uses Slackware (score one for open source) and PC104 boards as brains. Wonder if there is a cheaper solution...might be pretty cheap already as far as brain power/cost goes.
The sensors and communications pieces are probably the most expensive bits. The price for some of the satellite GPS Argos-based trackers seems to be $2-5k....
some of the details: (from http://www.ausi.org/publications/JalbertEtal2003.pdf) or here
Fiberglass body
Wing with solar panels made with syntactic foam.
(2) BP 585 Solar Panels (Maximum power (Pmax): 85W, Voltage at Pmax (Vmp): 18.0V, Current at Pmax (lmp): 4.72A -- Panel weight: 13.4 pounds)
Total Vehicle: Length = 78" Width = 47”
Pressure tube: Length = 46” ID = 8” OD = 9”
Weight in air: 370 lbs
Buoyancy (net) = 2 lbs
Max operating depth = 500 meters
Speed: 0.75 to 3 knots
Endurance: week to months
Energy source: Li-Ion battery (2kWh) with Solar
Panel charging at sea and Gas Gauge monitoring
of battery system.
Communications:
Iridium Satellite phone
FreeWave radio modem
Acoustic modem
Navigation: GPS with Dead Reckoning
Thruster: Vectored thruster
It is a pretty impressive craft. It says you can buy them from Falmouth Scientific...wonder what the cost would be? Looks expensive and hi-end.
It uses Slackware (score one for open source) and PC104 boards as brains. Wonder if there is a cheaper solution...might be pretty cheap already as far as brain power/cost goes.
The sensors and communications pieces are probably the most expensive bits. The price for some of the satellite GPS Argos-based trackers seems to be $2-5k....
some of the details: (from http://www.ausi.org/publications/JalbertEtal2003.pdf) or here
Fiberglass body
Wing with solar panels made with syntactic foam.
(2) BP 585 Solar Panels (Maximum power (Pmax): 85W, Voltage at Pmax (Vmp): 18.0V, Current at Pmax (lmp): 4.72A -- Panel weight: 13.4 pounds)
Total Vehicle: Length = 78" Width = 47”
Pressure tube: Length = 46” ID = 8” OD = 9”
Weight in air: 370 lbs
Buoyancy (net) = 2 lbs
Max operating depth = 500 meters
Speed: 0.75 to 3 knots
Endurance: week to months
Energy source: Li-Ion battery (2kWh) with Solar
Panel charging at sea and Gas Gauge monitoring
of battery system.
Communications:
Iridium Satellite phone
FreeWave radio modem
Acoustic modem
Navigation: GPS with Dead Reckoning
Thruster: Vectored thruster
Here is a cool thing: solar powered autonomous underwater vehicles. It would cool to build a few and send them out from the coast and see where they can get to...maybe even have them go out and come back...
If you attached a mini-computer with flash ram so when it loses energy it will pick-up where it left off. it would need a small OS and a GPS to find and record its location.
propulsion and submersion
more info here: http://www.ausi.org/events/LkGrg_Oct_04/LakeGeorgeTest_2.htm
Rensselaer Researchers Experiment With Solar Underwater Robots
A collaborative group of researchers are conducting experiments with underwater robots at Rensselaer's Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) on Lake George, N.Y., as part of the RiverNet project, an NSF-funded initiative. The group is working to develop a network of distributed sensing devices and water-monitoring robots, including solar-powered autonomous underwater vehicles (SAUVs), for detection of chemical and biological trends that may guide the management and improvement of water quality.
SAUVs are a new technology that will allow underwater robots to be deployed long-term by using solar power. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) equipped with sensors are currently used for water monitoring, but must be taken out of the water frequently to recharge the batteries.
The goal of ongoing experimentation is to develop SAUVs that will communicate and network together, thus allowing a coordinated effort of long-term monitoring, according to Art Sanderson, professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering at Rensselaer and principal investigator of the RiverNet project. Key technologies used in SAUVs include integrated sensor microsystems, pervasive computing, wireless communications, and sensor mobility with robotics.
During recent tests in Lake George at the DFWI, two SAUVs and one AUV were deployed to test communication, interaction, and maneuvering capabilities. Researchers were encouraged by the success of the networking capabilities.
"The Lake George field tests provided us an excellent opportunity to further our research and technology development of SAUVs," said Sanderson. "Once fully realized, this technology will allow better monitoring of complex environmental systems, including the Hudson River."
Sanderson has been working on SAUV development in collaboration with D. Richard Blidberg of the Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute in Lee, N.H. The collaborative research group working on this project also includes Technology Systems Inc., Falmouth Scientific Inc., Rensselaer's Darrin Fresh Water Institute, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
"This research is a significant step toward obtaining real-time, 3-D sensor monitoring of water quality," said Sandra Nierzwicki-Bauer, chair of the external advisory committee of the Upper Hudson Satellite of the Rivers and Estuaries Center, director of the Darrin Fresh Water Institute, and professor of biology at Rensselaer.
If you attached a mini-computer with flash ram so when it loses energy it will pick-up where it left off. it would need a small OS and a GPS to find and record its location.
propulsion and submersion
more info here: http://www.ausi.org/events/LkGrg_Oct_04/LakeGeorgeTest_2.htm
Rensselaer Researchers Experiment With Solar Underwater Robots
A collaborative group of researchers are conducting experiments with underwater robots at Rensselaer's Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) on Lake George, N.Y., as part of the RiverNet project, an NSF-funded initiative. The group is working to develop a network of distributed sensing devices and water-monitoring robots, including solar-powered autonomous underwater vehicles (SAUVs), for detection of chemical and biological trends that may guide the management and improvement of water quality.
 |
| Photo courtesy of Art Sanderson, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and D. Richard Blidberg, Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute |
The goal of ongoing experimentation is to develop SAUVs that will communicate and network together, thus allowing a coordinated effort of long-term monitoring, according to Art Sanderson, professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering at Rensselaer and principal investigator of the RiverNet project. Key technologies used in SAUVs include integrated sensor microsystems, pervasive computing, wireless communications, and sensor mobility with robotics.
During recent tests in Lake George at the DFWI, two SAUVs and one AUV were deployed to test communication, interaction, and maneuvering capabilities. Researchers were encouraged by the success of the networking capabilities.
"The Lake George field tests provided us an excellent opportunity to further our research and technology development of SAUVs," said Sanderson. "Once fully realized, this technology will allow better monitoring of complex environmental systems, including the Hudson River."
Sanderson has been working on SAUV development in collaboration with D. Richard Blidberg of the Autonomous Undersea Systems Institute in Lee, N.H. The collaborative research group working on this project also includes Technology Systems Inc., Falmouth Scientific Inc., Rensselaer's Darrin Fresh Water Institute, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center.
"This research is a significant step toward obtaining real-time, 3-D sensor monitoring of water quality," said Sandra Nierzwicki-Bauer, chair of the external advisory committee of the Upper Hudson Satellite of the Rivers and Estuaries Center, director of the Darrin Fresh Water Institute, and professor of biology at Rensselaer.