Intelligent Skin - Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for a Modular and Multipurpose Hull

The hull or skin of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is an essential element providing a protective layer and hydrodynamic efficient containment of the various system components as well as a large interface area with the ambient environment. These basic requirements impose a series of design challenges, such as pressure-tolerant mechanical stability, hydrodynamic efficiency, corrosion and fouling protection, but this interface also offers a variety of opportunities, which have hitherto not been fully exploited. The present chapter addresses these challenges and opportunities and identifies potential new solutions enabling the transition from AUV hulls towards an intelligent skin.