External Rescue Device for Underwater Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater vehicles face challenges in rescue and recovery due to their neutrally buoyant nature, which makes them prone to getting stuck, and existing emergency devices are either ineffective or integrate significantly into the vehicle's design, increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A submersible housing with an emergency mechanism and actuator that can be deployed upon detecting an emergency condition, including a buoyancy mechanism, signal transmitter, and localization means, to aid in the rescue and recovery of underwater vehicles by increasing buoyancy and facilitating location and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If emergency devices are integrated into the underwater vehicle body, then the vehicle can provide sufficient upward force for rescue, but the vehicle design becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency rescue device is extracted from the underwater vehicle body and implemented as an external attachment. The device includes a housing with an emergency mechanism that can be deployed independently, allowing the vehicle to gain sufficient upward force without integrating complex emergency systems into its core design.
Solution Approach 2:
The rescue system is segmented into separate functional components: a housing, an emergency mechanism, and an actuator. This modular approach allows the device to be attached to the vehicle externally, providing necessary upward force while keeping the vehicle's core design simple and cost-effective.
2Force
If emergency devices are integrated into the underwater vehicle body, then the vehicle can provide sufficient upward force for rescue, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency device is extracted as a separate external attachment rather than being built into the vehicle body. This allows the rescue functionality to be added without increasing the base vehicle's manufacturing cost, as the device can be produced independently and attached when needed.
3Device complexity
If the housing is disposed outside the underwater vehicle, then the vehicle design remains simple, but access through the hull for installation becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary between the housing and the underwater vehicle. This coupling allows the housing to be easily attached and detached from the vehicle's exterior surfaces, providing simple installation and removal without requiring hull penetration or complex integration.
4Reliability
If conventional emergency devices are used, then the vehicle can be rescued, but the space required within the vehicle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency mechanism and housing are extracted from the vehicle's internal space and positioned as external attachments. This allows the full emergency rescue system to be implemented without consuming valuable internal volume that is needed for the vehicle's primary functions.
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 solution enables effective and efficient rescue and recovery of underwater vehicles by providing sufficient buoyancy to float them to the surface and aiding in their location, reducing the complexity and cost associated with integrating emergency devices into the vehicle's design.
Implementation Method 1
an emergency mechanism, and an actuator configured to deploy the emergency notification mechanism... the emergency mechanism can include a buoyancy mechanism, and the actuator can be configured to expand the buoyancy mechanism to increase a buoyancy of the housing and the underwater vehicle coupled to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are provided for rescuing and recovering underwater vehicles. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a modular rescue device configured to attach to an underwater vehicle, such as with a tow line. The rescue device can include one or more emergency mechanisms that can be automatically and/or manually activated to aid in detecting the location of the underwater vehicle in the event of an emergency. One exemplary emergency mechanism includes a buoyancy mechanism, e.g., an expandable lift bag, configured to be inflated with a fluid to add buoyancy force to the system to pull the underwater vehicle toward a water surface. Another exemplary emergency mechanism includes a signaling mechanism configured to signal the underwater vehicle's location.