Semi-Flexible Instrumentation Mount for Aquatic Vehicle Impacts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unmanned aquatic vehicles face challenges in extreme marine environments due to equipment damage from impacts, corrosion, and environmental stressors, which can lead to costly repairs and mission failures without human intervention.

Innovation Solution

A semi-flexible instrumentation mount that stabilizes instrumentation modules on aquatic vehicles using an elastomeric segment and rigid connectors, allowing for deployment in harsh conditions and reducing structural forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rigid mounting is used to secure instrumentation, then stability and alignment are improved, but susceptibility to impact damage and structural forces increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrumentation alignmentVSAvoidimpact damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an elastomeric segment as a flexible mounting component that couples the instrumentation module to the aquatic vehicle. This elastomeric material provides the necessary flexibility to absorb impact forces while maintaining instrumentation alignment through its elastic properties, directly resolving the contradiction between rigid stability and impact resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastomeric segment acts as a pre-configured cushioning element between the instrumentation module and the vehicle structure. This cushioning is built into the mounting system beforehand, allowing it to absorb and dissipate impact energy before it reaches the sensitive instrumentation, thereby protecting against impact damage while maintaining alignment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If flexible mounting is used to reduce impact damage, then protection from impact is improved, but alignment stability and measurement precision deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact protectionVSAvoidinstrumentation alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomeric segment provides flexibility for impact protection while its viscoelastic properties dampen vibrations and movements that could compromise alignment. The material's inherent damping characteristics maintain measurement precision by reducing unwanted motion transmission to the instrumentation module

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The elastomeric material's physical parameters (viscoelasticity, damping coefficient) are selected to optimize both impact absorption and alignment stability. By carefully choosing materials with appropriate mechanical properties, the system achieves both flexibility for protection and rigidity for precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If unmanned vehicles are deployed to reduce operational costs, then productivity is improved, but ability to perform maintenance and repairs in extreme environments worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemission efficiencyVSAvoidequipment maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The elastomeric mounting system is pre-configured with protective characteristics that prevent damage before it occurs. This preliminary protection reduces the likelihood of equipment failure in extreme environments, minimizing the need for maintenance and repairs during unmanned missions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The cushioning provided by the elastomeric segment protects instrumentation from environmental stressors and impact damage during deployment. This beforehand protection ensures equipment reliability in extreme conditions, reducing maintenance requirements for unmanned vehicles operating independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 semi-flexible mount protects instrumentation from damage, maintains alignment, and facilitates long-duration missions without routine maintenance, enhancing mission success and reducing operational costs.

Implementation Method 1

an elastomeric segment comprising a vehicle end and an instrumentation end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12434795B2Semi-flexible instrumentation mount

Publication Date: 2025.10.07 SAILDRONE

AI summary

Techniques are provided for a semi-flexible instrumentation mount for coupling an instrumentation module to a mounting location disposed on an aquatic vehicle. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount includes a support assembly comprising one or more support assembly components. The support assembly is configured to couple with the mounting location disposed on the aquatic vehicle. The semi-flexible instrumentation mount also includes an elastomeric segment comprising a vehicle end and an instrumentation end, a first rigid connector configured to couple the vehicle end of the elastomeric segment with the support assembly, and a second rigid connector configured to couple the instrumentation end of the elastomeric segment with the instrumentation module.