Abstract
The goal of this report is to develop an underwater vehicle with a new buoyancy control device utilizing phase change of material. The volume of paraffin wax in the device can be changed by heating or cooling it. Then the volume change transmitted to a metal bellows attached to the device. The idea of the device is based on the mechanism of a hypothesis on sperm whales' buoyancy control method proposed by Mr. Clarke, M.R. First, we investigated some materials for volume change. Then, we developed a device and confirmed that this mechanism can change its buoyancy. Also, we investigated the effect of insulating and confirmed that insulating by air layer increasing the heating and cooling efficiency of the device. Finally, we built a prototype underwater vehicle with the four devices.
