Ultra-shallow unmanned submarine

Abstract

The submarine is good in concealment performance, so that the submarine is an important aggressive naval vessel of navy in various countries. However, due to the fact that conducting media exist in seawater, external communication of the submarine is difficult. For a submarine operated by a person, a launchman occupies a large space, and the manufacturing cost is high; and the rescue is difficult and the loss is huge when attacked underwater. The ultra-shallow unmanned submarine can overcome the defects. The submarine has the biggest characteristic that a semi-submersible, powered and movable radar radome which floats on the water surface is invented. The antenna can receive signals sent by any place on the earth through a satellite to attack an enemy ship, and the submarine is not easy to be found by enemies. The submarine is unmanned, small in size, good in concealment, large in endurance, simple in structure and low in manufacturing cost.

Description

[0001] Technical field: Shipbuilding technology, involving submarine safety and communication issues.

[0002] Background: Submarines have been widely used and rapidly developed due to their excellent concealment capabilities. However, due to the presence of conductive media in seawater, conventional radio waves have difficulty penetrating it for communication, significantly hindering submarines' external communications. Submarines rely on sonar for underwater communication. To obtain timely intelligence or ground commands, they must surface to receive signals, making them vulnerable to enemy detection and posing a significant risk. Some submarines currently deploy floating rafts to obtain ground signals, but these rafts can only remain on the surface near the submarine's surface, making them large targets and difficult to maneuver. If detected by the enemy, the submarine could be subjected to precise and devastating strikes. To address submarine communications challenges, many countries have adopted surface-mounted towed antennas, which offer excellent concealment and enable omnidirectional communication via satellite. However, these antennas are slow to deploy and retract, resulting in low communication efficiency, slowing the submarine's speed and compromising its maneuverability. Submerging the antenna underwater to communicate using long-wavelength signals does not affect the submarine's speed, but communication speed is slow, and the transceiver equipment is complex and expensive.

[0003] Manned submarines require significant space for crew members, increasing their size and construction costs. Underwater accidents can be difficult to rescue and cause significant losses. Currently, there is an unmanned remotely operated submersible (ROV) whose power, communications, and command systems are located onshore and transmitted via cables to the submersible, which is then operated from shore. This allows the submersible to avoid danger while also receiving communications signals from any direction. However, the submersibles, dragging cables underwater, are slow, have poor maneuverability, and a small radius of operation, making them of limited military practicality.

[0004] The present invention's "ultra-shallow unmanned submarine" overcomes these shortcomings. Its most significant feature is a semi-submersible, powered, and mobile radar radome, similar in size and shape to a seabird, that floats on the surface. This antenna, like a regular mobile phone, can receive signals from anywhere on Earth via satellite, directing the submarine's movements and attacking enemy ships. Made of carbon fiber and coated with a stealth material, the radome is lightweight and watertight. The radome is powered by a buoyant silver alloy cable and a high-strength waterproof material cable sheath, whose length is controlled by the submarine (via a winch). The radome can be towed by the submarine or the cable can be unwound. The radome's electric motor drives the propeller, allowing it to break through wind and waves, away from the submarine, and lurk near enemy ships or docks to conduct reconnaissance, receive, or transmit signals. The submarine is unmanned, compact, and space-saving, allowing for the storage of additional nickel-metal hydride batteries to increase its endurance. Recharging by supply ships is also possible during voyage. The ultra-shallow unmanned submarine travels nearly 100 meters underwater, with low water pressure and fast speed. Its overall structure is simpler than that of manned submarines, and it is coated with stealth materials at a lower cost, and there will be no casualties.

[0005] Armed with twin forward-firing 550mm homing torpedoes, six small anti-aircraft missiles, and nine rockets, the submarine is capable of precision strikes against enemy ships. A dual-barrel torpedo launch can destroy large surface vessels or enemy port facilities, offering excellent cost-effectiveness. The submarine is approximately 16 meters long, with a hull diameter of approximately 2.5 meters. It displaces 47.6 tons surfaced and 58.7 tons submerged. It is powered by a single DC electric motor and a single-shaft propeller.

[0006] Invention Description: This patent describes a semi-submersible, powered, and mobile radar radome, similar in size and shape to a seabird, that floats on the surface. It can receive signals from anywhere on Earth via satellite and, using unmanned technology, direct the submarine's actions based on these signals, such as bombing enemy ships, aircraft, or port facilities. The submarine's hull is coated with stealth material, and a nickel-metal hydride battery drives the motor. Power is supplied to the mobile radome via a silver alloy cable and a high-strength carbon fiber cable sheath, which is waterproof, buoyant, and whose length can be controlled by the submarine.

[0007] Implementation plan: First, according to the blueprints, the small submarine hull is manufactured using conventional shipbuilding techniques. The motor, propeller, steering gear, weapons, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and unmanned remote control equipment are then installed. A movable radome is then manufactured according to the blueprints using a 3D printer or nautical modeling technology. A high-strength silver alloy cable connects the submarine and the radome, providing power to the mobile radome. The radar receives commands from headquarters and uses unmanned remote control equipment to direct the submarine forward and strike enemy targets. The cable length is controlled by the submarine (via a winch). The radome can be towed by the submarine or unleashed from the submarine. The radome's electric motor drives the propeller, breaking through the wind and waves and away from the submarine.

[0008] Economic Benefits: The present invention has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, and is low-cost. It has a maximum length of approximately 16 meters and a surface displacement of approximately 47.6 tons, which is only about 3% of the tonnage of an ordinary submarine. The ultra-shallow unmanned submarine travels dozens of meters underwater, with low water pressure. The overall structural strength requirements are lower than those of manned submarines, and the cost is less than 1% of that of an ordinary submarine, making it extremely cost-effective (building an ordinary submarine costs about US$300 million). Damage from enemy attacks is minimal, and there will be no casualties. The weaponry includes forward-firing twin-tube 550mm diameter self-guided torpedoes, six small anti-aircraft missiles, and nine rockets, capable of precise enemy strikes. Two torpedoes fired simultaneously can destroy large surface ships or enemy port facilities. The radar antenna cover is only the size of a seagull, providing excellent concealment and global signal reception. Description of the drawings:

[0009] Figure 1It is a top view, 1. torpedo compartment 2. torpedo 3. torpedo tube bracket 4. radar antenna mount 5. horizontal wing 6. hull 7. canal cover 8. missile silo 9. rocket launch tube 10. horizontal rudder 11. vertical rudder 12. propeller 13. engine room 14. watertight wall 15. missile compartment 16. radio control compartment 17. deck 18. radar antenna cover 19. rib plate 20. torpedo tube.

[0010] Figure 2 It is a side view, 1, torpedo compartment 2, torpedo 3, torpedo tube bracket 4, radar antenna mount 5, horizontal wing 6, hull 7, cangkou cover 8, missile silo 9, rocket launch tube 10, horizontal rudder 11, vertical rudder 12, propeller 13, engine room 14, watertight wall 15, missile compartment 16, radio control compartment 17, deck 18, radar antenna cover 19, rib plate 20, torpedo tube 21, rocket launch tube bracket 22, inboard cable 23, unmanned equipment 24, watertight wall door.

[0011] Figure 3 It is a front view, 5, horizontal wing 6, hull 17, deck 18, radar antenna cover 19, rib plate 20, torpedo tube.

[0012] Figure 4 This is the remote control circuit diagram.

[0013] A. Remote control circuit block diagram B. Host circuit diagram (same as radar antenna cover)

[0014] C Servo circuit diagram (same as radar antenna cover) D Weapon control circuit diagram.

[0015] Figure 5 This is the radar antenna cover (exploded view),

[0016] A. Side view of the radar radome: 1. Camera 2. Hatch cover 3. Bolt 4. Deck 5. Deck edge 6. Knuckle line 7. Guide vane 8. Propeller 9. High-strength cable 10. Waterline 11. Radar antenna

[0017] B Radome top view 1, camera 2, hatch 3, bolt 4, deck 5, deck edge 11, radar antenna

[0018] C. Rear view of radar antenna cover: 1. Camera 2. Hatch cover 3. Bolt 4. Deck 5. Deck edge 6. Knuckle line 7. Guide vane 8. Propeller 9. High-strength cable 10. Waterline 11. Radar antenna.

Claims

1. Ultra-shallow unmanned submarine has invented a semi-submersible, powered, movable radar antenna cover that floats on the water surface and is the size and shape of a seabird. It can receive and send radio signals via satellite and communicate with any place on the earth.

2. According to claim 1, the radar antenna cover is made of carbon fiber and coated with stealth material.

3. The submarine uses a silver alloy cable and a high-strength, buoyant carbon fiber cable sheath to power and transmit signals to the radome. The length of the cable and sheath is controlled by the submarine using a winch.

4. The present invention adopts unmanned driving technology to control the submarine's actions according to command signals: determining the diving depth, speed, and bombing enemy ships, aircraft or port facilities.

5. According to claim 4, the ultra-shallow unmanned submarine uses a battery-driven motor to propel the ship forward, and can be charged by a supply ship on the way.

Images