Shark Skin-Inspired Surfaces to Help U.S. Navy Underwater Vehicles Move Faster 8 May 2021, 17:54 UTC ·
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It s no secret that the U.S. Navy has been developing and experimenting with various types of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for many years. Nowadays, these devices can operate in extreme depths while being at the same time a low-cost alternative capable of carrying various types of missions. As technology is advancing, so are the techniques used for building the UUVs adopted by the military. 1 photo
According to a Navy press release issued on Thursday, May 6th, Nicole Xu, a U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) postdoctoral research associate, is designing
U.S. Naval Research Lab to Design UUVs with ‘Shark Skin-Like Surfaces’ Our Bureau 1176
U.S. DoD photo. For representation only.
The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) is developing unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) with shark skin-like surfaces that provides better speed and energy efficiency.
The idea was provided by Nicole Xu, Ph.D., a NRL Postdoctoral Research Associate from the Laboratories for Computational Physics & Fluid Dynamics.
“Shark skin comprises arrays of teeth-like denticle structures, which contribute to fast and stealthy swimming by turbulent drag reduction,” Xu said. She began her NRL postdoctoral associateship in January 2021.
Xu’s goal is to test these bioinspired surfaces on hydrofoils in flow channels before implementing the skins onto unpiloted underwater vehicles (UUV), such as the NRL-developed WANDA UUV and other traditional underwater vehicles, the Navy said in a statement Thursday.
NRL Designs Faster, More Energy Efficient Unpiloted Underwater Vehicles
Computer-aided design (CAD) of a shark skin-inspired surface comprising various sized denticle structures developed by Nicole Xu, Ph.D., a U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Postdoctoral Research Associate from the Laboratories for Computational Physics & Fluid Dynamics who is aiming to design faster and more energy efficient underwater vehicles using bioinspired shark skin-like surfaces. (Drawing provided by NRL Laboratories for Computational Physics & Fluid Dynamics)
NEWS | May 6, 2021 By Nicholas E. M. Pasquini, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Corporate Communications WASHINGTON, – Nicole Xu, Ph.D., a U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Research Associate from the Laboratories for Computational Physics & Fluid Dynamics designs faster and more energy efficient underwater vehicles using bioinspired shark skin-like surfaces.
VIRIN: 210310-N-NO204-020
Nicole Xu, Ph.D., a U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Research Associate from the Laboratories for Computational Physics & Fluid Dynamics designs faster and more energy efficient underwater vehicles using bioinspired shark skin-like surfaces.
“Shark skin comprises arrays of teeth-like denticle structures, which contribute to fast and stealthy swimming by turbulent drag reduction,” Xu said. She began her NRL postdoctoral associateship in January 2021.
“Xu has demonstrated extraordinary motivation and initiative, as well as technical expertise in the area of unpiloted systems research,” said Jason Geder, an NRL aerospace engineer who is Xu’s mentor.
Xu’s goal is to test these bioinspired surfaces on hydrofoils in flow channels before implementing the skins onto unpiloted underwater vehicles (UUV), such as the NRL-developed WANDA UUV and other traditional underwater vehicles.
US Navy
WASHINGTON, D.C. – NRL Postdoctoral Research Associate from the Laboratories for Computational Physics & Fluid Dynamics designs faster and more energy efficient underwater vehicles using bioinspired shark skin-like surfaces.
Nicole Xu, Ph.D., a U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Research Associate from the Laboratories for Computational Physics & Fluid Dynamics designs faster and more energy efficient underwater vehicles using bioinspired shark skin-like surfaces.
“Shark skin comprises arrays of teeth-like denticle structures, which contribute to fast and stealthy swimming by turbulent drag reduction,” Xu said. She began her NRL postdoctoral associateship in January 2021.
“Xu has demonstrated extraordinary motivation and initiative, as well as technical expertise in the area of unpiloted systems research,” said Jason Geder, an NRL aerospace engineer who is Xu’s mentor.