Compliant Sensor Suspension for Shock-Resilient Underwater Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater acoustic sensors, such as cantilever beam vector sensors, are fragile and prone to damage during shipping and deployment, leading to mechanical failure and reduced effectiveness in generating sensor data.
Innovation Solution
A sensor suspension system comprising a framework with compliant devices made of elastomeric material that suspends the sensor to allow symmetrical sensing in multiple degrees of freedom, coupled with a buoyant device for deployment, ensuring the sensor moves like a water particle and operates outside the frequency of interest band.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If sensors are packed in sonotubes enclosed in syntactic shells or rigid foam, then sensors are protected during shipping and handling, but mechanical damage still occurs due to shock loads during deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the protection mechanism from rigid static packaging to a dynamic suspension system using compliant devices that adapt to shock loads. The compliant devices change their mechanical properties to absorb deployment shocks while maintaining sensor protection, resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces compliant devices as intermediary elements between the sensor and the rigid framework. These intermediaries absorb shock loads during deployment, preventing direct transmission of mechanical stress to the sensor, thus maintaining both protection and functionality.
2Strength
If sensors are rigidly mounted to maintain structural integrity, then sensors are protected from damage, but sensors cannot move freely like water particles to sense sound waves accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mounting parameter from rigid to compliant, allowing the sensor to move freely in response to sound waves while maintaining protection. The compliant devices provide the necessary flexibility for accurate measurement while the framework provides structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sensor support system into a rigid protective framework and flexible compliant devices. This segmentation allows different parts to serve different functions: the framework provides structural integrity and protection, while the compliant devices enable free sensor movement for accurate sound wave sensing.
3Measurement precision
If compliant devices are used to allow sensor movement in all degrees of freedom, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses four compliant devices arranged asymmetrically around the sensor, with each device positioned at a different location and orientation. This asymmetric arrangement provides symmetrical sensing capability in all degrees of freedom while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliant devices serve multiple functions simultaneously: they suspend the sensor, allow free movement in all directions, provide shock absorption, and enable symmetrical sensing response. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, managing device complexity while achieving measurement precision.
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 protects the sensor from damage and enables accurate data generation by allowing symmetrical sensing in all degrees of freedom, enhancing the sensor's ability to detect sound waves effectively.
Implementation Method 1
at least one buoyant device operable with the plurality of sensor suspension systems, wherein upon being placed on the water surface, the deployment control system is operable to be activated to release the at least one buoyant device and cause deployment of the plurality of sensor suspension systems
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of compliant devices can extend between the framework and the sensor so as to suspend the sensor within the inner volume of the framework. The plurality of compliant devices can facilitate a symmetrical sensing response of the sensor in at least one degree of freedom
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A sensor suspension system for use in an underwater environment comprises a sensor (e.g., vector sensor) and a framework comprising a plurality of support structures, and a plurality of compliant devices that suspend the sensor within an inner volume of the framework. The plurality of compliant devices facilitate a symmetrical sensing response of the sensor in three degrees of freedom when deployed in the underwater environment. The framework is moveable from a collapsed position to an expanded position. A plurality of sensor suspension systems can be tethered together into a sensor array by a deployment control system operable to release a buoyant device, tethered to the sensor suspension systems, that vertically positions the plurality of sensor suspension systems into the sensor array. The buoyant device can cause each framework to expand via pulling force through the tethers upon release of the buoyant device.