Design of a Self-moving Autonomous Buoy for the Localization of Underwater Targets

The paper presents the electromechanical design of an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) developed by the Department of Industrial Engineering (DIEF) of the University of Florence (UNIFI), Italy. One of the main functions of this autonomous moving buoy is to localize underwater targets, such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), through an Ultra Short BaseLine (USBL) and to enable the communication with them; furthermore, it is possible to equip the buoy with sensors or payloads, for instance cameras to detect the seabed. The buoy specifications and its navigation devices are described. The main features of the developed floating device are given, starting from its system architecture to its structural design. The buoy will be assembled during Summer 2019 and tested together with the UNIFI DIEF underwater vehicles.