Modular Underwater Vehicle Segmentation for Expandability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater vehicles lack modular expandability and hydrodynamic adaptability due to their pressure hulls, limiting their ability to accommodate specific mission requirements and useful elements.
Innovation Solution
A modular underwater vehicle design featuring bow and stern elements with specific cross-sectional profiles and mirror symmetry, allowing for variable assembly and minimal hydrodynamic disruption, enabling efficient expansion and flow optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pressure hull is used to protect the crew from dive pressure, then crew protection is improved, but modular expandability and access to useful elements are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The underwater vehicle is divided into a pressure hull segment and a non-pressure hull segment. The pressure hull contains the crew compartment, while the non-pressure hull accommodates useful elements and can be modularly expanded. This segmentation allows the pressure-containing structure to remain intact while enabling flexible configuration of mission-specific equipment outside the pressure boundary.
Solution Approach 2:
A non-pressure hull acts as an intermediary structure between the pressure hull and the external environment. This intermediate layer allows useful elements to be accessed and configured without compromising the integrity of the pressure hull, enabling modular expansion while maintaining crew protection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the outer hull is in contact with water for hydrodynamic performance, then surface vessel container placement is not available, but underwater vehicle hydrodynamics are maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle hull is segmented into pressure-containing and non-pressure-containing sections. The non-pressure section can be configured with various useful elements while maintaining the outer hull's contact with water for hydrodynamic performance. This allows mission-specific equipment to be integrated without requiring surface vessel-style container placement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If bow elements with specific width ratios (1.8-2.2 times) are used, then hydrodynamic shape is improved with minimal disruption, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bow elements are constructed using composite materials that can be molded into complex curved shapes with precise width ratios. This enables the hydrodynamically optimized geometry (with 1.8-2.2 times width ratio) to be manufactured without excessive complexity, as composite forming processes can accommodate the required curvatures and dimensional relationships.
4Adaptability or versatility
If modular elements are used for variable assembly, then adaptability for specific missions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular elements are designed with universal interfaces and standardized connection mechanisms that allow the same basic components to serve multiple mission configurations. This universality reduces the total number of different component types required, thereby limiting device complexity while maintaining high adaptability for various specific missions.
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 modular design allows for flexible configuration of useful elements while minimizing hydrodynamic resistance, enhancing the vehicle's capacity and adaptability for various missions without significant turbulence or complexity.
Implementation Method 1
The cross-section of the first bow element has a first third side which can be arranged towards the outside. The first third side has a rounded shape, with the tangent of the first third side forming a right angle with the first first side at the intersection point with the first first side. The water is thus guided around the utility element without causing significant turbulence.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a modular underwater vehicle having a varying number of useful elements (10) and a minimum number of other different modular elements.