Deployable Submersible Pair for Covert Coastal Reconnaissance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reconnaissance methods for coastal areas, such as deploying trained operatives or using aerial drones and satellite data, are either risky, non-covert, or lack the necessary high-resolution data for effective planning of personnel and hardware deployment, particularly in hostile environments.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a first submersible vehicle deploying a second submersible vehicle, connected via a tether, which allows independent movement and data transfer, enabling high-resolution data collection and sample acquisition with sensing equipment, and allowing re-docking and land movement for detailed coastal area assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If trained operatives are deployed to the intended deployment location for reconnaissance, then high-resolution data can be obtained, but the risk to the lives of operatives increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses autonomous submersible vehicles as artificial copies of human operatives to perform reconnaissance tasks. These vehicles can collect high-resolution data about coastal areas, water depth, and terrain features without exposing human lives to danger, thereby resolving the contradiction between data quality and operative safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human operatives with autonomous submersible vehicles equipped with sensors and navigation systems. This substitution allows the collection of detailed reconnaissance data while eliminating the risk to human life, as the vehicles can operate in hostile environments without vulnerability.
2Measurement precision
If aerial drones are used to obtain data, then high-resolution reconnaissance can be achieved, but the operation becomes non-covert and range is significantly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from aerial (three-dimensional air space) to underwater (three-dimensional water space) operations. Submersible vehicles operate below the surface, making them invisible to aerial surveillance and significantly extending their operational range beyond what drones can achieve, while maintaining high-resolution sensing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the ocean water column as an intermediary medium to conceal the reconnaissance vehicles from detection. By operating underwater rather than in the air, the vehicles exploit the natural barrier of water to remain covert while gathering intelligence, resolving the contradiction between detection risk and data quality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If satellite data is used to view potential deployment locations, then covert operation is maintained, but the resolution lacks the detail required for effective operation planning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the reconnaissance task into two stages: initial broad assessment using satellite data (covert, low resolution) followed by detailed on-site investigation using submersible vehicles (covert, high resolution). This segmentation allows the operation to maintain covert status while achieving the necessary level of detail for planning, as the submersibles can approach undetected and collect granular data about surface composition and obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses satellite data to perform preliminary identification of potential deployment locations before deploying submersible vehicles for detailed reconnaissance. This preliminary action narrows down the areas of interest, allowing the high-resolution submersibles to focus their investigation on specific targets while maintaining covert operations, thus resolving the resolution limitation of satellite data.
4Device complexity
If a single submersible vehicle is used for reconnaissance, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to collect comprehensive data and samples is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested configuration where a smaller second submersible vehicle is deployed from within a larger first submersible vehicle. The first vehicle provides power and data link capabilities through a tether, while the second vehicle can be positioned closer to the seabed for detailed sampling and sensing. This nesting allows comprehensive data collection capabilities without requiring each vehicle to be independently complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The first submersible vehicle serves multiple functions: it acts as a platform for deploying the second vehicle, provides power through the tether, maintains communication links, and can recover the second vehicle after reconnaissance. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve comprehensive data collection and sampling capabilities while keeping individual vehicle designs relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A system 100 is provided for performing reconnaissance of coastal areas. The system comprises a first submersible vehicle 106 and a second submersible vehicle 108. The first submersible vehicle 106 is configured to deploy the second submersible vehicle 108. When deployed, the second submersible vehicle 108 is configured to move independently from the first submersible vehicle 106. The second submersible vehicle 108 comprises at least one sensing means that is configured to determine at least one characteristic of the coastal area under reconnaissance. Also disclosed herein is a main submersible vehicle 106; a deployable submersible vehicle 108; and a method 200 of performing reconnaissance of a coastal area using such a system 100.