Design of a modular amphibious vehicle for conducting research in surfzone

The article considers the creation of a modular amphibious vehicle (MAV) moving on the bottom of the coastal territory for researching of waves, currents, sediment transport; investigation of ecosystems and biodiversity assessment of organisms; inspection and monitoring environmental conditions and anthropogenic load on nature; bathymetric studies. Features of designs of existing modular amphibious vehicles are considered. The configuration of developed chassis of MAV has the ability to change its own parameters (lever length is changes from 770 to 920 mm). This approach makes it possible to select rational chassis parameters and operating modes of modular amphibians to researching in a specific (separate) coastal zone. The combination of the coastline and coastal zone (in particular, periodically of inundated piece) represent the unique environment with difficult conditions for movement of the mobile systems. Directly, the coastline consists of different ground surfaces, relief characteristics, and also peculiar to this territory obstacles of natural and anthropogenic character. The movement in the surf zone is complicated by the low bearing capacity of the support base, a number of bottom barriers, hydrodynamic resistance to movement, actions of waves and currents (especially interaction of the chassis with the destructive waves). The field tests of the MAV in the area of the south-eastern coast of Sakhalin Island were conducted. The vehicle performance and efficiency of adopted design solutions were confirmed by obtained results.