Liquid Robotics Uncrewed Surface Vehicle

OVERVIEW
As part of a research and development initiative, I applied systems engineering methods to analyze and optimize the performance of and integrate the Liquid Robotics Wave Glider, an autonomous maritime vehicle designed for long-duration ocean monitoring.

CHALLENGE
The team needed to improve the engineering accuracy of the Wave Glider’s multi-domain system — combining hydrodynamics, control systems, and communications — to predict performance across diverse ocean conditions. Traditional methods lacked traceability and scalability for such a complex system.

APPROACH
I developed a systems engineering framework using DoD Phased Engineering Practices and SysML to capture system requirements, operational scenarios, and subsystem interdependencies. I collaborated with mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to map cross-domain data flows and identify performance bottlenecks. The project also involved verification and validation at lab and ocean testing to refine engineering.

SOLUTION
The finalized system model integrated environmental variables and mission profiles, providing a reusable digital twin architecture for future maritime autonomous systems.

IMPACT

- Increased traceability and reuse potential for future design iterations.

- Demonstrated feasibility of MBSE for unmanned maritime vehicles.

- Enhanced cross-disciplinary collaboration through shared modeling environment.


TOOLS & SKILLS:
SysML, Cameo Systems Modeler, MATLAB, Systems Integration, Requirements Analysis, Digital Twin