Underwater Vehicle Navigation With Surface Acoustic Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems for underwater vehicles face challenges with accuracy, latency, and high deployment costs due to the lack of satellite-based navigation underwater, and existing beacon-based methods are cumbersome and expensive.

Innovation Solution

A navigation system using surface transmitters that actively follow and align themselves with underwater vehicles, emitting signals to determine position without the need for anchored beacons, utilizing acoustic signals and synchronized time-of-flight measurements for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If satellite-based navigation (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) is used for positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but it cannot be used underwater since radio signals do not function in or under water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidapplicability underwater

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces acoustic signals as an intermediary medium for navigation. Instead of using satellite radio signals that cannot penetrate water, the system uses acoustic transmitters deployed in the survey area that emit acoustic signals detectable by underwater vehicles. This intermediary acoustic communication layer enables positioning underwater while maintaining accuracy comparable to satellite-based systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If long-baseline method with anchored beacons is used, then positioning accuracy is improved (significantly more than one meter), but deployment cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidbeacon deployment and calibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static, anchored beacon system into a dynamic, mobile transmitter system. Instead of fixed beacons that require anchoring and calibration, the system uses transmitters that can be deployed and moved freely in the survey area. This dynamic approach eliminates the complex anchoring and calibration procedures while maintaining positioning accuracy through acoustic signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If ultra-short baseline method is used, then device complexity is reduced (no beacons to place and collect), but positioning accuracy deteriorates (inaccuracies of several meters)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment simplicityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves the transmitters from the underwater dimension to the surface dimension. By deploying transmitters on the water surface rather than underwater, the system achieves both deployment simplicity (no underwater anchoring needed) and high positioning accuracy. The surface transmitters emit acoustic signals that propagate effectively to underwater vehicles, eliminating the meter-level inaccuracies of traditional USBL methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Measurement precision

If surface transmitters actively follow and align with underwater vehicles is implemented, then positioning accuracy and real-time performance are improved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time positioning accuracyVSAvoidtransmitter energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic signal transmission rather than continuous transmission. The surface transmitters emit acoustic signals at regular intervals, allowing the underwater vehicles to determine position through time-of-flight measurements. This periodic action reduces energy consumption compared to continuous transmission while maintaining real-time positioning accuracy through sufficiently frequent updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 approach provides accurate, real-time positioning with reduced latency and eliminates the need for expensive beacon installations, offering a cost-effective and efficient navigation solution for underwater vehicles.

Implementation Method 1

a transmitting unit configured to emit a first signal such that a runtime of the first signal can be determined by the underwater vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic signal propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

emit a first signal such that a runtime of the first signal can be determined

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS12560706B2Navigation system for underwater vehicles

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a navigation system which, on the one hand, is arranged on sides of the underwater vehicle/AUV and, on the other hand, includes a surface transmitter as a counterpart. The two units communicate with each other such that the surface transmitter emits its signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle and/or that the surface transmitter follows the underwater vehicle to improve the position determination capability.