The creation of fiberglass tanks and parts for autonomous underwater vehicle constant buoyancy power supply

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis was to construct and seal air and containment tanks and other parts for a constant buoyancy power supply for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, or AUV. While multiple materials and techniques were considered for construction, the final tanks were made using lost foam molds and epoxy resin. This secondary purpose of this thesis was to provide a detailed description of how to create fiberglass parts, especially custom designs with challenging shapes. Molds were made using a variety of techniques, with best results achieved using a hot wire. Most parts were finished by sanding and using a filler coat, though one of the tanks was left unfilled for transparency. The tanks were machined, and the foam removed, and valve, sensor and rail mounts were made and attached.