Manufacturing Spec Sheet - AUVAC

www.vctinc.com
VCT Family of
Underwater Vehicles
xGlider TM
VCT has developed its line of underwater vehicles
in a modular fashion that allows them
to be configured as a UUV, glider or towed
vehicle. Because of VCT’s modular components,
our gliders can be upgraded to hybrid
vehicles allowing the use of the UUV function
when speeds above 2 kts are critical (heading
into currents) and the glider function when
quietness is critical, all in the same mission.
Vehicle Command & Control
& Autopilot Systems
Several advances in glider design expand the
CONOPS for glider use. The key advance include
removal of the wing and replacement
of the shifting roll and pitch masses with actuated
external fins. The xGlider has an endurance of 2 to 10 months depending on the glider size and
battery type chosen by the Customer. This design is capable of transecting ocean currents of 2 knots,
exceeding legacy glider capabilities by a factor of 4. All components are depth rated to 1000 meters in
order to maximize its navigability. Baseline xGlider outperforms legacy systems in speed and turning
diameter. VCT’s xGlider removes most, if not all the shortcomings with legacy gliders and UUV’s.
UUV Glider
VCT’s vehicle software architecture is based on the ASTM F-41 international standard. It is open,
object-oriented, scalable and applicable across all of the vehicles of interest in this community.
The same VCT software is currently being used in 16 different UUV’s, gliders, and towed vehicles.
References are available upon request. Flight hours from any vehicle using VCT’s vehicle software
translate to increased reliability and robustness across all vehicles.
In order to facilitate the use of VCT’s software on many different vehicles, key aspects of the software
such as autopilot, device, and Vehicle Controller configuration are stored in configuration files, not
hard-coded in the source.
Integration of new sensors, autonomy modules, and command and control is facilitated by the
object-oriented design of the vehicle software and its adherence to the ASTM F-41 architecture.
Software robustness is assured through well-defined software development processes and thorough
testing. Software testing includes both automated and manual testing at all scales from unit
testing to full vehicle SITL, PITL, and HITL testing.
VCT engineers combine aero/hydrodynamic engineering and software design work into a single,
seamless process. Our software development utilizes the latest compilers, configuration
management, issue tracking, and continuous integration software to produce robust and reliable
vehicle software.