Bottomless Floating Cradle for Surface Vehicle Recovery Underway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current launch and recovery systems for surface vehicles, particularly unmanned or autonomous surface vehicles, face challenges in efficiency and safety, especially in rough seas and combat situations, as they require calm conditions and often involve complex operations that can expose vessels to enemy detection and risk damage during launch and recovery.
Innovation Solution
A bottomless floating cradle structure with buoyant members that allows for contact-free interaction with surface vehicles, combined with a lifting structure and fixation members like magnets for secure engagement, enables quick and reliable launch and recovery of surface vehicles while the host vessel is moving, even in severe weather conditions, minimizing damage and eliminating the need for divers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deployed lifting device with cage-like body is used for recovery, then close contact between host vessel and surface vehicle is achieved, but capture and recovery becomes difficult in heavy sea and impossible while host vessel is underway
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the bottom surface from the traditional cage-like lifting device, creating a bottomless cradle structure. This removes the harmful contact between the device and the surface vehicle's submerged portion while retaining the lifting functionality. The cradle is deployed from the host vessel and allows the surface vehicle to be lifted without physical contact at the bottom, enabling operation in heavy seas and while underway.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottomless cradle acts as an intermediary structure that transfers the surface vehicle from water to host vessel without requiring direct contact between the vehicle and the host vessel or diving personnel. The cradle can be deployed and retrieved mechanically, eliminating the need for divers to assist in connection or release operations.
2Reliability
If traditional lifting devices are used, then surface vehicles can be recovered, but divers are required to assist in connection or release which increases operational complexity and risk
Solution Approach 1:
The bottomless cradle structure enables self-service recovery operations. The cradle is deployed from the host vessel, the surface vehicle enters or is winched onto the cradle automatically, and the cradle is then retrieved back to the host vessel. The entire process is accomplished through mechanical means without requiring divers to manually connect or release the surface vehicle, simplifying the operational procedure and reducing human risk.
3Productivity
If surface vehicles are launched and recovered while host vessel is underway, then speed and flexibility are improved, but safety risks increase due to vertical change and heave of vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The bottomless cradle structure provides dynamic adaptability to the motion of both the host vessel and surface vehicle. Without a rigid bottom surface, the cradle can flex and adapt to the relative vertical movements caused by waves and vessel heave. This dynamic characteristic allows safe operation while both vessels are underway, accommodating the unpredictable motions without causing damage to either vessel.
4Ease of operation
If ramp method is used for recovery, then surface vehicle can be moved onto host vessel, but ample storage space and specially designed ramp are required which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the need for a permanently installed ramp structure from the host vessel. Instead, a portable bottomless cradle is deployed that can be positioned in the water alongside the host vessel. The surface vehicle is winched onto the cradle and then the cradle is retrieved to the host vessel. This eliminates the need for specially designed ramps and ample storage space on the host vessel, reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system facilitates efficient and reliable launch and recovery of surface vehicles under various conditions, reducing exposure risks and deck space requirements, while maintaining the integrity of the vehicles and host vessel, and allowing for automated operations such as refueling and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the cradle structure comprises buoyant members on its outside along at least a part of its periphery
Implementation Method 2
The fixation member comprises a magnet configured to engage the side wall of the hull of the surface vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
System for launch and recovery of a surface vehicle, comprising a floating cradle structure configured to receive the surface vehicle, the cradle structure being bottomless such that contact between a submersed portion of the surface vehicle and the cradle structure is avoided upon receiving the surface vehicle.