MDTF

The only one of its type in the world, the Marine Dynamics Test Facility (MDTF) measures stability and dynamic performance of underwater vehicles and towed bodies. Test models are mounted on a sting and computer controlled motors allow sway, yaw, heave pitch and roll motions to be individually controlled which allow models to move with 6 degrees-of-freedom. An internal force dynamometer measures the local body forces during the exercises, and accelerometers and position encoders record state variables. Parameter estimation software takes the measured loads and state variables and calculates the hydrodynamic derivatives using a system identification technique.