Modular Diver Propulsion Vehicle Coupling for Redundant Towing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diver propulsion vehicles have limited reliability, thrust, and operating range, often requiring multiple units for redundancy and struggling to tow multiple divers due to size and weight constraints, which affects their usability in applications like cave diving where long distances and multiple diver support are needed.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication interface is integrated into diver propulsion vehicles to enable communication and synchronization between units, allowing them to operate as a master-slave system, ensuring redundancy, increased thrust, and extended range while maintaining a compact and lightweight design that can fit through submarine hatches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple diver propulsion vehicles are used for redundancy and extended range, then reliability and operating range are improved, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple diver propulsion vehicles are coupled together to form an integrated arrangement that functions as a single redundant system. The vehicles are mechanically connected via coupling provisions that allow them to operate together while maintaining individual functionality, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into modular diver propulsion vehicle units that can be independently deployed and coupled. Each unit maintains its own propulsion system and control, allowing redundancy without requiring a single complex integrated system
2Force
If multiple diver propulsion vehicles are coupled together, then thrust and towing capacity are improved, but weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple diver propulsion vehicles are coupled in a distributed spatial arrangement rather than stacking weight vertically. The coupling provisions enable lateral or longitudinal distribution of multiple units, increasing thrust through combined propulsion while managing weight distribution across multiple contact points with the diver
3Ease of operation
If diver propulsion vehicle is designed to fit through submarine hatch, then ease of deployment is improved, but maximum size and power are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The diver propulsion system is segmented into multiple compact modular units that can individually pass through submarine hatches. Each unit maintains sufficient propulsion capability, and when coupled together, the arrangement achieves the required total thrust and power for towing multiple divers over long distances
Data Source
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AI summary
An arrangement comprises: - a plurality of diver propulsion vehicles (1), each configured for propelling at least one diver, wherein each diver propulsion vehicle (1) comprises a wireless communication interface (9, 10, 13) configured for providing a wireless communication, - a support (30) for mechanically coupling the plurality of diver propulsion vehicles (1), wherein the support (30) is configured for mechanically coupling the plurality of diver propulsion vehicles (1) side-by-side or longitudinally via the support (30).