Path planning method of underwater glider based on energy consumption model in current environment

It is generally considered that the speed of underwater glider is the function of buoyancy and gliding angle. However, the buoyancy and gliding angle are adjustable, which makes the speed of underwater glider within an adjustable range, however, it is usually taken as a constant in current documentations. Considering the path planning in ocean currents, if the maximum speed of a glider can find a path that connects the start point and the target point, then it can decrease its consumption by adjusting its speed in current field of some regions to fit the favorable currents and overcome the influence of adverse currents. Based on the above facts, the paper presents a new path planning method of adjustable speed glider in currents, and the simulation result is shown. According to the result: compared with the path planning method in constant speed, the adjustable speed glider can utilize the current in a better way and save the consumption of energy in a further way