[PSUBS-MAILIST] K-boat thruster configuration

[John Brownlee <jonnie@cobweb.scarymonsters.net>]

Hi everyone,

	Has anyone ever seen something the size of a K-boat with a
different thruster configuration than the one George uses? I've read a lot
so far that details the modifications performed to subs with this thruster
configuration, and it seem the  thing they do is re-vamp the thruster
number and direction after sea-trials.
	Captain George has one aft steer-able thruster (like an active
rudder) and two smaller thrusters, port and starboard. I've been thinking
of moving to a configuration more like the thruster quads we use in the
space program for station-keeping. Anyone have input to share? I'm
concerned about fine control and station-keeping over a work area more than
anything else.
	Been experimenting at the lab with line scanners. They seem like
pretty simple devices, optically. Any one of the pro's work with the laser
scanners out there in the wild? Been wondering with the raster-scan
technology developed for satellites why no one's trying to move from a
push-broom to whisk-broom scan mode.

					Thanks again guys,

							John

P.S. Dale, you give us all hope! Great work!

John Brownlee
Chief Systems Administrator
Scary Monsters Network
jonnie at scarymonsters dot net