An Underwater Vector Propulsion Device Based on the RS+2PRS Parallel Mechanism and Its Attitude Control Algorithm

Abstract

In order to overcome the disadvantages of some existing autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), such as actuator extraposition and degree-of-freedom (DOF) redundancy, a 2-DOF vector propeller propulsion system with built-in actuator based on the deficient DOF parallel mechanism is proposed. The RS+2PRS (Revolute-Spherical+ Prismatic-Revolute-Spherical) parallel mechanism is used as the main structure, and the driving parts are placed in the interior of the AUV cabin, which is beneficial to the sealing and protection of the propulsion system. In addition, the motion parameters decoupling shows that the two independent parameters are the precession angle and the nutation angle of the propeller installation platform. Therefore, the attitude control algorithm uses two prismatic joints as driving units to establish the nonlinear mapping model with the two Euler attitude angles. In the end, the simulation analysis and the real device are used to verify the feasibility of the attitude control algorithm and the in situ adjustment function of the propeller, which lays the theoretical foundation for engineering applications in the future.