DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE SIMULATOR FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION

Abstract

Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) is a self-propelled device used to facilitate divers to move freely underwater for search and rescue operations as well as for exploration purposes. DPV provides speed and a long-range to cover a wide area for various diving operations. A DPV generally consists of a pressure-resistant waterproof casing with a battery-powered electric motor that drives the propeller. It is widely used across the globe very effectively with a varying range of design and endurance capabilities. The design and fabrication of DPVs have been done in many developed countries. Indigenous design and fabrication of DPV are possible by utilizing local resources of Bangladesh. Designed prototype DPV is developed using SolidWorks, and a CFD analysis is carried out using Ansys software. After that, a DPV model is fabricated using resources from the local market. This project preliminarily focused on design, fabrication of DPV and simulated various parameters to get better results. Finally, the test and trial results and performance of the DPV are evaluated so that it can be used effectively for search and rescue operations in Bangladesh.