Project Gator

Project Gator

Project Gator

Project Gator

Designing an underwater drone intended for military surveillance and reconnaissance through long periods of loitering.

Designing an underwater drone intended for military surveillance and reconnaissance through long periods of loitering.

Designing an underwater drone intended for military surveillance and reconnaissance through long periods of loitering.

In recent years, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) both autonomous and operated, have become integral to maritime surveillance and operations, sharing technological principles with aerial systems.


The objective of this project was to produce a refined prototype through iterative engineering and testing that demonstrates the core hibernation concept. This was achieved through the integration of a buoyancy control system and easy to deploy mechanism.

Role (team) :

Client:

Role (team) :

Industrial Designer

Industrial Designer

Duration:

Duration:

20 weeks

20 weeks

Year:

Year:

2026

2026

Service Provided:

Service Provided:

Industrial Design, Research and Development

Industrial Design, Research and Development

01 Design Process

Go to final design

01 Design Process

Go to final design

01 Design Process

Go to final design

01 Design Process

Background

Background

Background

The development process began with a foundational analysis using product teardown and comparative product assessment to understand the components and operational principles of existing UUVs. Mission profiles were then defined to contextualise technical requirements and establish a clear value proposition.


This analysis identified two central design pillars: hibernation and stealth. Engineering efforts focused on a buoyancy control system enabling long-duration, low-energy hibernation at depth, and on biomimetic propulsion to reduce acoustic signature in support of marine acoustic sustainability.

The development process began with a foundational analysis using product teardown and comparative product assessment to understand the components and operational principles of existing UUVs. Mission profiles were then defined to contextualise technical requirements and establish a clear value proposition.


This analysis identified two central design pillars: hibernation and stealth. Engineering efforts focused on a buoyancy control system enabling long-duration, low-energy hibernation at depth, and on biomimetic propulsion to reduce acoustic signature in support of marine acoustic sustainability.

The development process began with a foundational analysis using product teardown and comparative product assessment to understand the components and operational principles of existing UUVs. Mission profiles were then defined to contextualise technical requirements and establish a clear value proposition.


This analysis identified two central design pillars: hibernation and stealth. Engineering efforts focused on a buoyancy control system enabling long-duration, low-energy hibernation at depth, and on biomimetic propulsion to reduce acoustic signature in support of marine acoustic sustainability.

The development process began with a foundational analysis using product teardown and comparative product assessment to understand the components and operational principles of existing UUVs. Mission profiles were then defined to contextualise technical requirements and establish a clear value proposition.


This analysis identified two central design pillars: hibernation and stealth. Engineering efforts focused on a buoyancy control system enabling long-duration, low-energy hibernation at depth, and on biomimetic propulsion to reduce acoustic signature in support of marine acoustic sustainability.

Mission profile

Mission profile

Mission profile

Loitering drones offer tactical advantages by remaining near potential targets without requiring continuous human deployment or retrieval. This project applies that concept to a compact underwater drone designed to fit in a backpack. The system is intended to loiter underwater, collect data, and autonomously transmit information after deployment. It must also surface on command and possess a self-destruct capability if compromised by an adversary.

Existing products

Existing products

Existing products

To understand where our concept fits within the existing landscape, a range of underwater drones already available in the market was studied.


This resulted in a focus on features suited to a compact, long-duration underwater drone that can hibernate on the seabed.

Requirements

Requirements

Requirements

  • Deployment time within 5 minutes

  • Controlled closed volume changing system

  • Wireless connection/ autonomous steering

  • Must fit in standard military backpacks

  • Must support independent modules that can be swappable.

Prototyping

This project relied heavily on an iterative process of creation and testing. Especially, to fit the different off the shelf components together in a confined space to keep the overall volume down required finetuning. This ultimately resulted in the desired small size (which fits in a standard military backpack) and a fully functional proof of concept.

Buoyancy engine with inflated external bladders.

Buoyancy engine with deflated external bladders.

Complete assembly of buoyancy engine

Testing

Inside a controlled maritime testing basin the buoyancy control, propulsion and steering were tested. Results highlighted the need for different (higher density) materials for the outer hull. This increases the density needed for neutral buoyancy and avoid leakages of 3D printed materials.

Insights

  • Minor leakage

  • Additional mass needed

  • Needs control buttons on exterior

02 Final Design

Go back to process

02 Final Design

Go back to process

02 Final Design

Go back to process

02 Final Design

Autonomous

Autonomous

Autonomous

Autonomous

The drone autonomously navigates to the desired location, can enter the hibernation state, and executes the preprogrammed loitering actions. This reduces the operator’s exposure to danger. Once the hibernation state is activated it can stay there for days or weeks due to the low energy mode. It can be programmed to surface at a predefined location, allowing recovery without the risk of hostile locations.

Modular

Modular

Modular

Modular

The UUV is designed as a platform rather than a fixed-purpose device. Consequently, the modular payload allows the attachment of different sensors or cameras without altering the core design. This ensures that operators interact with a consistent base system, with only certain modules that can change depending on the specifications of the mission, reducing the setup time and risk of incorrect installation.

Internal components

The drone is designed with modularity in mind. Making it possible to quickly adapt to different scenarios and easy to repair if needed.

The control electronics

The control electronics

The control electronics

Buoyancy engine

Buoyancy engine

Buoyancy engine

Steering and propulsion

Steering and propulsion

Steering and propulsion

Depth control

The buoyancy engine controls the inflation and deflation of the outer bladders by filling them with liquid. This results in an increased or decreased volume of the drone which impacts and therefore increases or decreases the density of the drone. This makes it possible to precisely control the depth at which the drone operates.

Physical model

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