Sonobuoy with detection position changeable and control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention introduces a sonobuoy capable of changing its detection position and a control method thereof, which detects underwater targets using acoustic signals and adjusts the detection range by changing the detection position during operation, thereby enabling accurate detection of a desired detection range by moving the detection sensor to a depth band where the detection signal is easily received.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position, which detects underwater targets using acoustic signals and adjusts the detection range by changing the detection position during the operation of the sonobuoy, and a control method thereof. Background Technology

[0003] Generally, to detect submarines or other underwater targets, acoustic signals are primarily used instead of light or electromagnetic waves, which have very short transmission distances underwater and are therefore less useful.

[0004] Methods for detecting underwater targets using acoustic signals can be broadly classified into Passive Acoustic Detection Mode and Active Acoustic Detection Mode.

[0005] In addition, various technologies are being used to detect submarines, including sonobuoys, surface and submarine-mounted sonar, TASS (Towed Array Sonar System), HMS (Hull Mounted Sonar), and other harbor surveillance systems.

[0006] A sonobuoy is a sensor that combines sonar and a buoy, and can detect targets by estimating the azimuth of targets existing underwater when dropped onto the water surface.

[0007] These sonobuoys perform detection using acoustic signals at a predetermined depth after being dropped into the water surface. Since multiple depths must be checked before dropping the sonobuoys, a large number of sonobuoys must be dropped, which increases sonobuoy costs.

[0008] In other words, since the sono is deployed only to the depth selected by the operator before the sonobuoy enters the water, depth selection is not possible, and the depth range must be identified in advance. Since the sonobuoy must be designed and selected to be optimized for that depth range and operated, unnecessary costs are incurred in the operation of the sonobuoy. The system for simulating the underwater target described above is also disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2011-0005448.

[0010] The matters described above as background technology are intended only to enhance understanding of the background of the present invention and should not be construed as an acknowledgment that they constitute prior art already known to those skilled in the art.

[0011] Prior Art: Published KR 10-2011-0005448

[0012] delete The problem to be solved

[0013] The objective of the present invention is to provide a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position and a control method thereof, which detects underwater targets using acoustic signals and adjusts the detection range by changing the detection position during the operation of the sonobuoy. means of solving the problem

[0015] A sonobuoy capable of changing detection position according to the present invention for achieving the above objective comprises a sonobuoy device including a buoy, a detection sensor, and a cable pack connecting the buoy and the detection sensor, wherein the cable pack is composed of a receiver, a depth control unit provided inside the receiver, and a cable, and the depth control unit is composed of a housing in which a motor and a controller are built, and a shaft to which a cable is connected that rotates by receiving power from the motor, thereby allowing the detection sensor to move to the target depth by controlling the motor to rotate the shaft to the target depth.

[0016] The depth control unit is characterized by having a housing fixed to a receiver, a shaft rotatably mounted in the receiver, and being interconnected via a rotating shaft provided in a motor.

[0017] The cable is characterized by having one end connected to a buoy and the other end connected to a detection sensor, with a portion of the middle section penetrating the interior of a shaft and being wound or unwound by the rotation of the shaft.

[0018] The shaft is characterized by having a first hole and a second hole through which a cable passes, and the first hole and the second hole are arranged offset from each other.

[0019] It is characterized by further including a communication unit installed on a buoy that communicates with the outside to receive commands or transmit information detected through a detection sensor.

[0020] It is characterized by further including a damper that is installed adjacent to a detection sensor in the cable and has an outer surface that is curved or formed in a polygonal shape to reduce the influence of flow velocity or ocean current movement.

[0021] Meanwhile, a controller control method for a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position includes: a signal input step of receiving a depth command signal of a detection sensor from an external communication; a position change step of analyzing the depth command signal and transmitting a command to a motor to cause the detection sensor to move to a target depth; and a transmission / reception step of transmitting detection information detected through the detection sensor to the outside. Effects of the invention

[0023] A sonobuoy capable of changing detection position and a control method thereof, having a structure as described above, detect underwater targets using acoustic signals. By adjusting the detection range through a change in the detection position during the operation of the sonobuoy, accurate detection of a desired detection range is possible by moving the detection sensor to a depth band where detection signals are easily received. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0025] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the application of a sonobuoy. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a sonobuoy capable of changing detection position according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the length adjustment of a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an assembly diagram of a sonobuoy capable of changing detection position as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the cable pack of a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a depth control unit of a sonobuoy capable of changing detection position as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart according to the control method of a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position according to the present invention. FIG. 8 is a detailed control flowchart of a sonobuoy capable of changing detection position according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed in this specification will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Identical or similar components regardless of drawing symbols are given the same reference number, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0027] The suffixes "module" and "part" used for components in the following description are assigned or used interchangeably solely for the ease of drafting the specification, and do not inherently possess distinct meanings or roles.

[0028] In describing the embodiments disclosed in this specification, if it is determined that a detailed description of related prior art may obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, such detailed description is omitted. Furthermore, the attached drawings are intended only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed in this specification, and the technical concept disclosed in this specification is not limited by the attached drawings; it should be understood that they include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0029] Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0030] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or connected to that other component, there may also be other components in between. On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there are no other components in between.

[0031] A singular expression includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] In this specification, terms such as “comprising” or “having” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood as not excluding in advance the existence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0033] A controller may include a communication device that communicates with other controllers or sensors to control the function it is responsible for, a memory that stores an operating system, logic instructions, and input / output information, and one or more processors that perform judgments, calculations, decisions, etc., necessary for controlling the function it is responsible for.

[0034] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position and a control method thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be examined.

[0036] A sonobuoy is a buoy equipped with a sound detector, and in this invention, it refers to a device that detects a submarine by emitting multiple sound waves in the water where a submarine (c) is expected to be located.

[0037] Such a sonobuoy is a device combining a sonar and a buoy, and can be divided into passive sonar and active sonar, and the sonobuoy according to the present invention can be composed of passive sonar.

[0038] Passive sonar can detect the location of a submarine by detecting propulsion noise, fluid noise, mechanical noise, etc.

[0039] Such sonobuoys can be launched to a specific area via a projectile equipped on a body (a) or a water-based vehicle (b). Accordingly, the sonobuoys can be protected by a cap, a buffer, etc., and can be configured to have a parachute installed so that they can be launched to a desired location when launched from the air.

[0040] The projectile and its configuration resulting from the launch of such a sonobuoy are already known technologies and will be omitted.

[0042] The sonobuoy according to the present invention is configured to allow the detection position to be changed according to the depth setting after deployment is completed.

[0043] The sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position of the present invention includes, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a buoy (100), a detection sensor (200), and a cable pack (300) connecting the buoy (100) and the detection sensor (200).

[0044] The buoy (100) is provided to maintain its position while floating on the water surface.

[0045] The detection sensor (200) may be configured as a DIFAR sensor (directional frequency analysis and recoding sensor) and may be configured to estimate the location of the sound source by analyzing acoustic signals generated from the sound source underwater.

[0046] The cable pack (300) is connected to the buoy (100) and the detection sensor (200), allowing the detection sensor (200) to move and be maintained at a predetermined depth.

[0047] This cable pack (300) may be composed of a receiver (310), a depth control unit (320) provided inside the receiver (310), and a cable (330).

[0048] The depth control unit (320) is provided to adjust the position of the detection sensor (200) and is configured to adjust the length of the cable (330).

[0049] This depth control unit (320) may be composed of a housing (323) in which a motor (321) and a controller (322) are built, and a shaft (324) to which a cable (330) is connected and which rotates by receiving power from the motor (321).

[0050] The motor (321) is configured to be capable of forward and reverse rotation, and the controller (322) controls the motor (321) according to commands transmitted from the air or water moving body.

[0051] That is, the controller (322) receives a command signal according to the target depth to be detected, and controls the operation of the motor (321) with the command signal so that the shaft (324) rotates, thereby causing the cable (330) to be wound or unwound and the detection sensor (200) to move to the target depth.

[0052] Through this, the sonobuoy according to the present invention can change the area to be detected underwater to improve the detection and identification function.

[0054] To explain the above invention in detail, the depth control unit (320) has a housing (323) fixed to a receiver (310), a shaft (324) rotatably mounted in the receiver (310), and can be interconnected via a rotating shaft (321a) provided in a motor (321).

[0055] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6, the depth control unit (320) is composed of a housing (323) and a shaft (324), and the housing (323) and the shaft (324) are installed to cross the receiver (310).

[0056] The housing (323) is fixed to the receiver (310), and the shaft (324) is rotatably mounted in the housing (323) and the receiver (310), so that the cable (330) is wound or unwound by the rotation of the shaft (324).

[0057] The shaft (324) receives power from the motor (321) of the housing (323) and rotates, and a rotation axis (321a) is extended from the motor (321) and connected to the shaft (324). That is, when the rotation axis (321a) is rotated by the motor (321), the shaft (324) connected to the rotation axis (321a) rotates, causing the cable (330) to be wound or unwound, and the position of the detection sensor (200) can be changed by the movement of the cable (330).

[0059] Here, one end of the cable (330) is connected to the buoy (100) and the other end is connected to the detection sensor (200), and a portion of the cable is passed through the interior of the shaft (324) so ​​that it can be wound or unwound by the rotation of the shaft (324).

[0060] In this way, the cable (330) is connected at one end and the other end to the buoy (100) and the detection sensor (200), respectively, and the detection sensor (200) is moved from the buoy (100) by winding or unwinding according to the rotational position of the shaft (324).

[0061] The cable (330) may be equipped with an internal electrical line, and the buoy (100) may be provided with a communication unit (400) that communicates with the outside to receive commands or transmits information detected through a detection sensor (200). The communication unit (400) may be equipped with a module (410) for function setting and transmission / reception and a seawater battery (420), so that each component, including the controller (322) and the detection sensor (200), can be electrically connected through the cable (330).

[0063] Additionally, the cable (330) is connected such that a portion of the cable passes through the shaft (324) and crosses the interior, so that when the shaft (324) rotates, the cable can be wound or unwound along the outer surface of the shaft (324).

[0064] Here, a first hole (H1) and a second hole (H2) through which a cable (330) passes are formed in the shaft (324), and the first hole (H1) and the second hole (H2) may be arranged offset from each other.

[0065] As can be seen in FIG. 6, a first hole (H1) and a second hole (H2) are formed in the shaft (324), and a cable (330) passes through the first hole (H1) and the second hole (H2) and is connected to the shaft (324). In particular, the first hole (H1) and the second hole (H2) are arranged offset from each other so that when the shaft (324) rotates, the cable (330) can be wound or unwound in opposite directions along the longitudinal direction on the outer surface of the shaft (324).

[0066] Through this, the cable (330) is prevented from twisting, and the length of the cable (330) can be accurately adjusted in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft (324).

[0068] Meanwhile, a damper (500) may be further included, which is installed adjacent to the detection sensor (200) on the cable (330) and has an outer surface that is curved or formed in a polygonal shape to reduce the influence of the flow velocity or ocean current movement.

[0069] The damper (500) is installed on the cable (330) together with the detection sensor (200) and is positioned adjacent to the detection sensor (200). This damper (500) may be composed of a weight and is formed with an outer surface that is curved or polygonal to control the current, thereby preventing the position of the detection sensor (200) from changing excessively due to the current.

[0071] Meanwhile, the control method of the controller (322) of the sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position according to the present invention may include, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a signal input step (S10) of receiving a depth command signal of the detection sensor (200) from an external communication; a position change step (S20) of analyzing the depth command signal and transmitting a command to the motor (321) so that the detection sensor (200) moves to a target depth; and a transmission and reception step (S30) of transmitting detection information detected through the detection sensor (200) to the outside.

[0072] In detail, as illustrated in FIG. 8, after the step (S1) of setting the target depth of the sonobuoy through the gas or water moving body, the gas or water moving body performs the step (S2) of transmitting a depth command signal according to the target depth to the sonobuoy.

[0073] The sonobuoy receives a depth command signal, analyzes the signal, and performs the step (S3) of confirming the target depth.

[0074] Thus, when the target signal is detected, the detection sensor (200) is converted into a motor (321) control signal and output as a motor (321) control signal to perform the step (S4) of moving to the target depth, and when the detection sensor (200) moves to the target depth, the detection sensor (200) can perform the step (S5) of detecting the detection area using sound waves.

[0076] A sonobuoy capable of changing detection position and a control method thereof, having a structure as described above, detect an underwater target using an acoustic signal, and by adjusting the detection range through changing the detection position during the operation of the sonobuoy, accurate detection of the desired detection range is possible by moving the detection sensor (200) to a depth range where the detection signal is easy to detect.

[0078] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in relation to specific embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified and changed in various ways without departing from the technical spirit of the invention as provided by the following claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0080] 100:Buoy 200:Detection sensor 300: Cable pack 310: Receiver 320: Depth control unit 330: Cable 321: Motor 321a: Rotating shaft 322: Controller 323: Housing 324: Shaft 400: Communications unit 500: Damper H1: 1st hole H2: Second hole S10: Signal input step S20: Position change step S30: Transmission / reception step

Claims

Claim 1 In a sonobuoy device comprising a buoy (100), a detection sensor (200), and a cable pack (300) connecting the buoy (100) and the detection sensor (200), the cable pack (300) is composed of a receiver (310), a depth control unit (320) provided inside the receiver (310), and a cable (330). The depth control unit (320) is composed of a housing (323) in which a motor (321) and a controller (322) are built, and a shaft (324) to which the cable (330) is connected and rotates by receiving power from the motor (321). A first hole (H1) and a second hole (H2) through which the cable (330) passes are formed in the shaft (324), and the first hole (H1) and the second hole (H2) are arranged offset from each other. One end of the cable (330) is connected to the buoy (100), and the other end is connected to the detection A sonobuoy capable of changing detection position, characterized in that it is connected to a sensor (200), and a portion of the suspension passes through the first hole (H1) and the second hole (H2) of the shaft (323) and is wound or unwound by the rotation of the shaft (323), thereby allowing the detection sensor (200) to move to the target depth by controlling the motor (321) to the target depth and rotating the shaft (324). Claim 2 A sonobuoy capable of changing detection position according to claim 1, wherein the depth control unit (320) is characterized in that the housing (323) is fixed to the receiver (310), the shaft (324) is rotatably mounted in the receiver (310), and is interconnected via a rotating shaft (321a) provided in the motor (321). Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A sonobuoy capable of changing detection position according to claim 1, further comprising: a communication unit (400) installed on a buoy (100) and communicating with the outside to receive commands or transmit information detected through a detection sensor (200). Claim 6 A sonobuoy capable of changing detection position according to claim 1, further comprising a damper (500) installed adjacent to a detection sensor (200) on a cable (330) and having an outer surface that is curved or formed in a polygonal shape to reduce the influence of current velocity or ocean current movement. Claim 7 A method for controlling a controller of a sonobuoy capable of changing the detection position according to claim 1, comprising: a signal input step (S10) of receiving a depth command signal of a detection sensor (200) from an external communication; a position change step (S20) of analyzing the depth command signal and transmitting a command to a motor (321) so that the detection sensor (200) moves to a target depth; and a transmission / reception step (S30) of transmitting detection information detected through the detection sensor (200) to the outside.

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