Maritime Payload Repositioning Hull With Impact Crumple Zone

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing maritime vehicles face challenges in efficiently and stealthily delivering payloads, such as military explosives, to targets while minimizing damage to the vehicle and ensuring precise detonation proximity.

Innovation Solution

A maritime vehicle design with a hull comprising a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion includes a crumple zone made of a softer material that collapses upon impact, telescoping into the second portion to bring the payload closer to the impact zone, and a controller that activates the payload's detonation after impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the maritime vehicle uses a rigid hull structure to maintain integrity, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to reduce distance between payload and impact zone deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehull structural strengthVSAvoiddistance between payload and impact zone

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hull is divided into a first portion (bow) and a second portion (hull body), allowing the bow to be detached from the hull body upon impact. This segmentation enables the payload in the hull body to be repositioned closer to the impact zone while maintaining overall structural integrity through the bulkhead separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securement mechanism between the first portion and second portion is designed to transition from a connected state during normal operation to a detached state upon impact. This dynamic transformation allows the hull structure to adapt its configuration based on operational requirements, reducing the distance between payload and impact zone when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the first portion is made of softer material to reduce impact damage, then damage to the vehicle is improved, but the structural strength during normal operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact damage to vehicleVSAvoidhull structural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the hull are made from materials with different shear modulus values. The first portion (bow) uses softer material to absorb impact energy and reduce damage, while the second portion (hull body) uses stronger material to maintain structural integrity during normal operation. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between impact protection and operational strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the payload is positioned at the bow for direct impact, then delivery precision is improved, but the ability to reposition upon impact deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayload delivery precisionVSAvoidpayload repositioning capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The payload is preliminarily positioned in the second portion (hull body) at a predetermined location. Upon impact detection, the securement mechanism detaches the first portion, allowing the payload to be repositioned to the bow area. This preliminary positioning combined with post-impact repositioning capability achieves both delivery precision and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 precise positioning of the payload near the impact zone for effective detonation, minimizing vehicle damage and enhancing mission success.

Implementation Method 1

a crumple zone arranged to reduce an initial length of the first portion to a reduced length in response to impact with a target external to the maritime vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the first portion is made of a first material having a first shear modulus value and the second portion is made of a second material having a second shear modulus value, the first shear modulus value being lower than the second shear modulus value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear modulus:

Implementation Method 3

a bulkhead disposed between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the bulkhead forms a watertight seal for the second portion when the first portion is detached from the second portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWatertight seal:

Implementation Method 4

the payload is detonated within the hull and at least partially disposed within a submerged portion of the maritime vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExplosion: Explosion

Data Source

PatentUS20260109440A1Payload re-positioning system for a maritime vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 SARONIC TECHNOLOGIES

AI summary

A payload re-positioning system for a vehicle that includes a body having a front and a rear, the body adapted to receive a payload to be deployed at a first position within the body that is a first distance from the front. The vehicle also includes means for causing the payload to be disposed at a second position in which the payload is disposed at a second distance from the front when the body directly contacts or is within a pre-determined distance of a target external to the vehicle, the second distance being different from the first distance.