Integrated Metamaterial Sonar for UUV Navigation and Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) navigation and communication systems are bulky, heavy, consume high power, and suffer from electromagnetic interference due to separate design and configuration of navigation sonar and acoustic communication systems, necessitating a compact, lightweight, low-energy, and cost-effective integrated solution.
Innovation Solution
A navigation-communication-integrated metamaterial sonar for UUVs, featuring a disc array and backboard with uniformly arranged discs and water gaps, utilizing a transducer for flexible switching between navigation and communication modes by adjusting structural parameters to control frequency bands, leveraging band gap characteristics of one-dimensional phononic crystals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If navigation sonar and acoustic communication systems are designed and configured separately, then each system can be optimized independently, but the overall system volume increases, weight increases, power consumption increases, and electromagnetic interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines navigation sonar and acoustic communication systems into a single integrated device. The disc array structure serves dual purposes: it functions as a sonar antenna for navigation while simultaneously acting as an acoustic communication transducer. This merging eliminates the need for separate systems, reducing overall volume, weight, and power consumption while avoiding electromagnetic interference between independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system employs a universal disc array structure that performs multiple functions. The same physical structure and transducer elements are used for both sonar navigation and acoustic communication tasks. By designing a multi-functional system, the patent achieves independent optimization of both functions within a unified platform, improving reliability without increasing system volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate navigation sonar and communication systems are used, then functional requirements can be met, but weight increases and load capacity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges navigation sonar and acoustic communication into a single integrated system, eliminating duplicate structural components, mounting hardware, and supporting infrastructure. This consolidation significantly reduces the overall weight of the system while maintaining both navigation and communication functional capabilities through the unified disc array structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system uses a universal disc array that serves both navigation and communication functions. By designing the system to perform multiple functions with a single structure, the patent reduces weight while preserving adaptability and versatility. The same transducer elements and structural components support both operational modes, eliminating the need for separate weighted systems.
3Reliability
If separate navigation sonar and communication systems are configured, then each system can operate independently, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines navigation sonar and acoustic communication systems into a single integrated platform with shared power supply, control electronics, and signal processing resources. This merging eliminates redundant power consumption from duplicate systems while maintaining independent operational capability through software-controlled mode switching. The unified structure reduces overall power requirements compared to separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system uses universal power and control infrastructure that supports both navigation and communication functions. By designing a multi-functional system with shared resources, the patent reduces power consumption while preserving the ability to operate independently in either mode. The same hardware platform efficiently allocates power to different functions as needed.
4Adaptability or versatility
If separate navigation sonar and communication systems are used, then system functionality is achieved, but electromagnetic interference occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines navigation sonar and acoustic communication systems into a single integrated platform that operates entirely in the acoustic domain. This merging eliminates electromagnetic interference between separate electronic systems, as both functions share the same acoustic transducer elements and signal processing chain. The unified structure ensures that navigation and communication operations occur without cross-system electromagnetic disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system uses a universal acoustic interface for both navigation and communication functions. By designing both functions to operate through the same acoustic transducer array, the patent eliminates electromagnetic interference that would occur between separate electronic systems. The multi-functional design ensures that both navigation and communication can operate simultaneously or independently without electromagnetic disruption.
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 flexible switching between detection and communication modes, reduces system volume and weight, minimizes electromagnetic interference, enhances concealment, and improves integration, making it suitable for small and medium-sized UUVs with limited load capacity and endurance.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer is placed at an axial center of one water gap of the disc array. The transducer emits and receives underwater acoustic signals
Implementation Method 2
Water gaps are arranged between the backboard and the disc array and between two adjacent discs of the disc array. Thicknesses g of multiple water gaps are same
Implementation Method 3
leveraging band gap characteristics of one-dimensional phononic crystals
Implementation Method 4
By adjusting a period p of the disc array, a board thickness t1 of each disc, a thickness g of each water gap, a radius w1 of the disc array, a radius w2 and a thickness t2 of the backboard, working states of underwater navigation and underwater acoustic communication are flexibly switched by changing working frequencies
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation-communication-integrated metamaterial sonar for underwater vehicles is provided, and belongs to the field of ocean detection and communication. The metamaterial sonar is a metamaterial composite structure including a group of disc array with the same diameters, a disc backboard and water gaps. By adjusting the period p of the disc array, a board thickness t1 of each disc, the thickness g of each water gap, the radius w1 of the disc array, the radius w2 and the thickness t2 of the backboard, the working states of underwater navigation and underwater acoustic communication may be flexibly switched by changing working frequencies, and the navigation-communication-integrated sonar may be realized.