2. GLIDER CONFIGURATION
The AUG considered here is a customised Slocum Electric
GliderTM (Webb Research Inc.). The custom set embraces
both the external elements and the internal ones. The
AUG does maintain the torpedo shape with fixed wings
and a tail: wings with an inner sweep of 45 degrees near
the hull, but tail without surface control of the rudder that
is kept hold with an angle of incidence of 0 degrees. The
advantage of this solution is that the external hull may
be considered a unique rigid body, in order to make the
actuation system more robust, but this makes the control
task harder. The absence of external controllable parts,
moreover, does improve the marine agents immunity of
the vehicle; this is a valuable advantage in an underwater
environment. The glider is internally powered by a syringetype
ballast tank placed in the nose, which is inflated to
vary the buoyancy of the vehicle. Moreover, an internal
sliding mass, which moves like a Cartesian 2D robot, is
used for fine adjustments in pitch and roll.