Communication node of an autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle

Abstract

This utility model pertains to the field of marine underwater robotics. The communications unit of an autonomous underwater vehicle comprises a sealed housing containing a radio modem and a mast connected to the housing. The mast is a hollow tube, rigidly secured at one end to a flange. A radio antenna is installed in a groove at the free end of the tube, secured with a screw and filled with a radio-transparent polymer material, ensuring a watertight seal and a streamlined shape. The housing is sealed by covers with sealing rings; a sealed connector for cable outlets is installed in the cover. To increase rigidity and prevent longitudinal displacement of the communications unit, its mast is reinforced with fairings and a hydrodynamic knife, rigidly secured to each other and to the housing cover. The design of the communications unit prevents seawater from entering the inner hull of the autonomous underwater vehicle in the event of damage or depressurization of the mast tube.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of marine underwater robotics and is intended to organize stable radio communication of an autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle (AUV) during its operation on a trajectory.

[0002] The closest analog (prototype) is the invention under patent RU 2712797 C1, "Module of an integrated antenna device for electronic equipment for an autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle." This known device comprises antenna elements mounted on a mast structure connected to a sealed instrument compartment and a fairing providing protection from external influences.

[0003] The main disadvantages of the given analogue are the following.

[0004] The modular design of the integrated antenna device with a retractable mast reduces the manufacturability of the product design and reduces its reliability due to moving parts when operating in an aquatic environment.

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to develop a communication unit for an AUV that is characterized by a simple and reliable design, which will ensure stable radio communication for the AUV in rough sea conditions.

[0006] The technical result, which the claimed technical solution is aimed at achieving, is the design of the AUV communication unit that does not have moving parts.

[0007] The specified technical result is achieved due to the design of the AUV communication unit, including a mast, an upper cover, a lower cover and a sealed housing; a mast in the form of a hollow pipe, one end of which is rigidly and permanently connected to a flange, and at the opposite end of the mast there is a groove with a radio communication antenna installed in it, which is fixed with a screw connection filled with a radio-transparent polymer material (for example, polyurethane) for sealing and forming streamlined contours; a radio communication modem is located inside the sealed housing, the radio communication modem is fastened with screws with a profiled head having a groove for installing sealing O-rings in it, while the tightness of the housing is ensured due to its connection with the upper cover and the lower cover, which are attached to the sealed housing by means of housing fastening screws and housing O-rings;in the lower cover there is a hermetic connector installed for providing electrical coupling of the radio communication modem with the on-board system of the AUV, as well as a fitting for checking the tightness with a sealing ring and a cover in the form of a union nut for quickly checking the tightness of the housing with the help of a leak testing device (not included in the communication unit of the AUV, not shown in the figures); additional rigidity is given to the mast due to its reinforcement with fairings, rigidly fixed by bolted connections with a metal hydrodynamic knife installed behind the mast (relative to the course of movement of the AUV - the direction of movement of the AUV is indicated in Fig. 1 by a thick arrow), the hydrodynamic knife, in turn, is rigidly connected to the upper cover of the housing by means of a key.

[0008] This structural reinforcement also helps prevent unwanted longitudinal movement of the mast. To lighten the structure, the fairings can be made of plastic.

[0009] The radio antenna is connected to the modem via cables laid inside the mast (pipe). A clamp is installed to secure the cables inside the sealed housing.

[0010] The mast height can be from one to two transverse dimensions of the AUV.

[0011] Fig. 1 shows a general view of the communication unit (side view).

[0012] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the communication unit, revealing the structure of the internal elements of the structure (front view).

[0013] In Fig. 1, 2 the following is indicated:

[0014] 1 - mast,

[0015] 2 - top cover,

[0016] 3 - sealed case,

[0017] 4 - flange,

[0018] 5 - radio communication antenna,

[0019] 6 - radio modem,

[0020] 7 - a screw with a profiled head having a groove for installing sealing O-rings in it,

[0021] 8 - sealing o-ring,

[0022] 9 - bottom cover,

[0023] 10 - hermetic connector,

[0024] 11 - a leak test nipple with a sealing ring and a cap in the form of a union nut,

[0025] 12 - fairings,

[0026] 13 - hydrodynamic knife,

[0027] 14 - key,

[0028] 15 - clamp,

[0029] 16 - screw connection,

[0030] 17 - radio-transparent polymer material,

[0031] 18 - housing sealing rings,

[0032] 19 - housing fastening screw,

[0033] 20 - bolted connection.

[0034] The AUV communication unit is manufactured as follows. The mast (pipe) is rigidly fixed to the flange (e.g., by welding), and the flange is also secured to the top cover. The radio antenna is installed in the groove at the end of the pipe and secured with a screw connection. The antenna installation area is then filled with a polymer material to seal it and form a streamlined surface. The modem is placed inside the sealed enclosure and secured with screws with a profiled head having a groove for installing sealing O-rings. The sealed enclosure is closed with the top cover using an O-ring and the enclosure fastening screws. The following are installed in the bottom cover: a sealed connector for cable input / output; the cables are secured inside the sealed enclosure with a clamp; a leak test nipple with a sealing ring and a cap in the form of a union nut.The sealed housing is closed with a lower cover using a sealing ring and housing fastening screws.

[0035] The fairings are installed around the mast and secured with bolted connections to the blade, which is attached to the top cover using a key - this arrangement increases rigidity and eliminates longitudinal displacement.

[0036] The tightness test is performed before installing the AUV communication unit.

[0037] The use of such a rigid and sealed design of the AUV communication unit on underwater vehicles will ensure uninterrupted radio communication in rough sea conditions during the AUV's ascent to the surface.

Claims

A communication unit of an autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle (AUV) comprising a sealed housing, a mast, a radio communication antenna mounted on the mast, characterized in that the design includes an upper cover and a lower cover; a mast in the form of a hollow pipe, one end of which is rigidly and permanently connected to a flange, and at the opposite end of the mast there is a groove with a radio communication antenna installed in it, which is fixed with a screw connection filled with a radio-transparent polymer material; a radio communication modem is placed inside the sealed housing, the fastening of which is carried out by screws with a profiled head having a groove for the installation of sealing O-rings therein, wherein the tightness of the housing is ensured due to its connection with the upper cover and the lower cover, which are attached to the sealed housing by means of housing fastening screws and housing O-rings;A sealed connector is installed in the lower cover to ensure electrical connection of the radio communication modem with the on-board system of the AUV, as well as a fitting for checking the tightness with a sealing ring and a cover in the form of a union nut; additional rigidity is imparted to the mast by strengthening it with fairings, rigidly fixed with bolted connections with a metal hydrodynamic knife installed behind the mast relative to the direction of movement of the AUV, while the hydrodynamic knife, in turn, is rigidly connected to the upper cover of the housing by means of a key; the radio communication antenna is connected to the modem by means of cables laid inside the cavity of the mast.

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