Spool-Based Cable Deployment for Underwater Vehicle Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for recovering autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) face issues with cable deployment, leading to increased risk of collisions and damage due to incorrect cable deployment and wrapping around the vehicle's components.

Innovation Solution

A device featuring a flexible link with a spool and ballast load, where the spool sinks with the ballast load, causing the flexible link to unwind and release the coil, allowing it to float to the surface, thereby facilitating safe and efficient cable deployment and reducing the risk of entanglement with the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cable is deployed in the water during AUV recovery, then the AUV can be pulled to the surface, but the cable may not deploy correctly and remains in the vicinity of the AUV, increasing collision risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery efficiencyVSAvoidsafe deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the cable deployment process by separating the cable (flexible link) from the AUV through a spool mechanism. The cable is wound on the spool which is initially attached to the AUV, then released to deploy independently. This segmentation allows the cable to unfold systematically away from the AUV rather than remaining tangled nearby.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spool acts as an intermediary device between the AUV and the cable. It mediates the deployment process by controlling how the cable is released and positioned in the water. The spool with ballast load ensures the cable deploys at a distance from the AUV, preventing direct contact and potential damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the boat approaches very close to the AUV to catch the cable, then the cable can be retrieved, but the risks of collisions between the boat and the AUV increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable retrievalVSAvoidcollision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-deploying the cable to a significant distance from the AUV using the spool mechanism before the boat needs to retrieve it. This preliminary deployment ensures the cable is already positioned in a safe location, eliminating the need for the boat to approach close to the AUV and thereby preventing collision risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the cable winds around parts of the AUV such as fins or propeller, then the cable can be deployed, but the risks of damaging the AUV increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable deploymentVSAvoidentanglement damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spool serves as an intermediary that controls cable deployment and positioning. By attaching the ballast load to the spool, the system ensures the spool sinks and deploys the cable at a controlled distance from the AUV. This intermediary mechanism prevents the cable from randomly winding around AUV components like fins or propellers, eliminating entanglement damage risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The ballast load attached to the spool creates a sinking force that counteracts the buoyancy of the cable. This ensures the spool and deployed cable move away from the AUV in a controlled manner, preventing the cable from looping back and wrapping around AUV components. The counterweight effect maintains proper cable positioning and prevents harmful entanglement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 ensures correct deployment of the cable, reducing the risk of damage to the AUV and simplifying the recovery process by allowing the cable to surface at a significant distance from the vehicle, thus enhancing safety and ease of retrieval.

Implementation Method 1

the spool and the ballast load are such that the spool associated with said load sinks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the spool freed from said load floats

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP2420440B1Device for recovering a naval or submarine vehicle

Publication Date: 2015.02.18 INSTITUT FR DE RES & DEV POUR LEXPL DE LA MER IFREMER

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AI summary

Device for recovering a marine or underwater craft, this device comprising: a flexible link (20) having a first end (21) intended to be linked to the craft (80), a spool (30) to which a second end (22) of the flexible link (20) is linked, the flexible link being adapted to be wound around the spool, and a ballast load (50) adapted to be associated with the spool (30). The spool (30) and the ballast load (50) are such that the spool associated with the load sinks, while the spool freed from the load floats; and the flexible link (20) and the spool (30) cooperate in such a way that the spool is freed from the load (50) by the unwinding of the flexible link (20) wound around the spool (30). Marine or underwater craft equipped with such a device.