Inflatable Planar Sensor Platform for Underwater Towed Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing towed sensor arrays for underwater sound sensing face challenges in achieving controlled vertical or horizontal alignment and efficient launch, recovery, and stowage, particularly in handling large aperture sensor arrays with robust and deployable structures.
Innovation Solution
A structurally robust, deployable inflatable platform with a planar hull shape, featuring hydrodynamic shaping and control surfaces, that can be neutrally or negatively buoyant, allowing controlled orientation and easy launch and recovery operations, equipped with a manifold for air and water pressure control to manage buoyancy and stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid platform structure is used to maintain sensor positional tolerances, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture and stowage are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The platform transitions from a flexible collapsed state during deployment to a rigid operational state when inflated, allowing it to adapt its structural properties dynamically. The inflatable hull and sensor panel assemblies provide rigidity during operation while remaining collapsible for compact stowage, resolving the contradiction between maintaining precision and ease of deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform uses inflatable hull structures and sensor panel assemblies that can be collapsed into compact configurations for stowage and then inflated to form rigid structures during operation. This flexible shell approach allows the platform to achieve the necessary structural rigidity for sensor positioning while maintaining ease of deployment and storage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the platform is made neutrally or negatively buoyant for operational depth, then adaptability is improved, but launch and recovery operations become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The platform's buoyancy is dynamically adjustable through ballast water tanks that can be filled or emptied to transition between positive buoyancy (for easy launch and recovery) and neutral or negative buoyancy (for operational depth control). This dynamic buoyancy control resolves the contradiction between operational adaptability and ease of launch/recovery operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform uses hydraulic ballast tanks to control buoyancy by pumping water in and out of designated chambers. This pneumatic-hydraulic system allows the platform to achieve neutral or negative buoyancy for operational depths while maintaining the ability to return to positive buoyancy for easy recovery operations.
3Ease of operation
If control surfaces are added for orientation control, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform uses pneumatic or hydraulic actuators to control the orientation of sensor arrays and platform sections. These actuators provide precise control over vertical and horizontal alignment while integrating into the existing inflatable structure, achieving ease of operation without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform incorporates movable control surfaces and adjustable sensor panel orientations that can be dynamically positioned using integrated actuators. This dynamic control capability enables precise alignment while the surfaces can be folded or retracted when not in use, minimizing structural complexity.
4Measurement precision
If sensors are cooled to ambient temperature at operational depth, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor cooling system utilizes the natural cold environment of deep water operations, allowing sensors to passively cool to ambient temperature through thermal conduction to the surrounding water. This self-cooling approach eliminates the need for active refrigeration systems, achieving measurement precision without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform uses circulating water systems to conduct heat from sensors to the surrounding cold operational environment. This hydraulic cooling approach leverages the cold temperatures at operational depths to naturally cool sensors, achieving thermal stability without complex active cooling machinery.
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
Enables efficient deployment and recovery of sensor arrays with precise orientation, maintaining sensor positional tolerances and operational integrity under hydrostatic and hydrodynamic loads, while providing a compact stowage solution.
Implementation Method 1
The platform is then ballasted with water to an inflation pressure of approximately 100.0 psig above ambient depth pressure
Implementation Method 2
Air is released from the platform to shift the center of buoyancy outboard from a longitudinal centerline of the platform. The platform is then ballasted with water to an inflation pressure of approximately 100.0 psig above ambient depth pressure. The platform becomes neutrally or negatively buoyant as needed.
Implementation Method 3
The spacing between panels allows the external fluid to cool the sensors and achieve ambient temperature at the operational depth. Fluid cooling also minimizes thermal gradients between sensors.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor platform is provided with a rigid hull having a planar shape having a bow, stern, a port and a starboard side. The platform includes an inflatable perimeter tube having sides extending along a perimeter of the hull. A tow connection is at the bow and rigid control surfaces are at the stern. A planar sensor array is disposed within the platform. The planar sensor array includes inflatable sensor panels attached to the port and a starboard side of the perimeter tube. Each of the inflatable sensor panels has a plurality of sensors embedded with electrical conductors for power and data transfer. A manifold disposed within the platform operationally connects to the inflatable perimeter tube and the inflatable sensor panels. An electrical controller disposed within the platform connects to the sensors and the manifold.