Modular Buoyancy Control for Field Configurable Autonomous Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) and autonomous vehicles are highly specialized, leading to high production costs and limited adaptability, as they are designed for specific missions, making them expensive and inflexible, with proprietary systems that hinder component sharing and field repairs.
Innovation Solution
A modular design for UUVs and autonomous vehicles that allows users to assemble and configure modules such as command and control, propulsion, sensors, and communications, enabling customization for specific missions and enabling field replacement of components without compromising the vehicle's integrity, using magnetic attachments to eliminate hull penetrations and reduce maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicles are designed for specific missions with specialized configurations, then mission performance is optimized, but production costs increase and adaptability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is divided into separate functional modules (propulsion module, payload module, control module, etc.) that can be independently designed, manufactured, and assembled. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific function while enabling flexible reconfiguration for different missions by changing module combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular architecture creates universal interfaces and standardized connection mechanisms that allow the same base vehicle platform to perform multiple different missions by swapping payload modules and adjusting propulsion configurations, eliminating the need for completely separate specialized vehicles for each mission type.
2Reliability
If vehicles are designed for specific missions, then operational effectiveness is improved, but production costs increase due to lack of economies of scale
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the vehicle into standardized modules, the same module components can be mass-produced for multiple different vehicle configurations, achieving economies of scale in manufacturing while maintaining mission-specific performance through modular assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows mission-specific parameters to be changed by reconfiguring module combinations rather than redesigning entire vehicles, enabling cost-effective production of standardized modules that can be adapted to different missions through parameter adjustments in assembly configuration.
3Device complexity
If proprietary systems are used in specialized vehicles, then system integration is simplified, but component sharing and field repairs become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Universal interfaces and standardized connection protocols are implemented across all modules, allowing components to be shared between different vehicle configurations and enabling field repairs by swapping modules with standardized interfaces that work across the entire fleet.
Solution Approach 2:
Segmenting the vehicle into independent modules with standardized interfaces isolates system complexity within each module while maintaining simple universal connections, making it easier to repair individual modules in the field without affecting other parts of the system.
4Ease of manufacture
If fixed configurations are used at manufacture, then initial setup is simplified, but field modifications and adaptations require complete redesign
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle is configured as separate modular units with standardized interfaces that can be easily assembled and reconfigured in the field without requiring complete redesign, maintaining simple manufacturing processes while enabling flexible field adaptations through module recombination.
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
This modular approach reduces production costs, enhances adaptability, and increases mission flexibility by allowing users to configure vehicles for various tasks without the need for multiple specialized vehicles, while also enabling reliable field repairs and reducing operator costs.
Implementation Method 1
using magnetic attachments to eliminate hull penetrations and reduce maintenance
Implementation Method 2
Buoyancy control module for field configurable autonomous vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The vehicle can include a module for buoyancy control.