Design and Implementation of Pure H2/O2 Fuel Cell–Battery Hybrid Systems for Long-Range AUVs

As platform, communication, navigation, and control technologies, which have long been considered core technologies of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), have developed, there have been various efforts to improve the operational time of existing battery-based AUVs. Although research on hydrogen fuel cell systems with high energy density, air-independent propulsion, and low noise began in the early 2000s, many technological challenges remain. In this paper, we first present prototypes of overseas UUV developments powered by fuel cells. The main characteristics and design considerations of the fuel cell system for unmanned submarines identified through development cases and conceptual studies are then presented. Finally, the system implementation and performance test results are introduced.