Buoyancy Controlled Vehicle

Buoyancy-controlled vehicles are underwater robots that achieve locomotion and maneuvering primarily through adjustments in buoyancy, offering advantages in energy efficiency and reduced environmental disturbance compared to thruster-based systems. Current research focuses on improving maneuverability and control, particularly in challenging environments like under-ice cavities and coral reefs, employing techniques such as model-based guidance algorithms (e.g., partially observable Markov decision processes) and novel buoyancy actuation mechanisms (e.g., microbubble generation). These advancements enable applications ranging from scientific data collection in extreme environments to underwater construction and ecological monitoring, offering a valuable alternative for various underwater tasks.