Underwater Vehicle Navigation With Moving Surface Acoustic Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current navigation systems for underwater vehicles face challenges such as limited accuracy, high operational costs, and latency due to the inability to use satellite-based navigation underwater, requiring expensive beacon placement and calibration, and latency in signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
A surface transmitter system that moves in sync with the underwater vehicle, emitting directional signals to determine distance and position, eliminating the need for beacon placement and reducing latency by using GNSS for self-positioning and minimizing signal energy loss through perpendicular signal emission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite-based navigation (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo) is used for positioning, then navigation accuracy is improved, but it cannot be used underwater since radio signals do not function in or under water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces acoustic signals as an intermediary medium for navigation. Since radio signals cannot penetrate water, the system uses acoustic waves that can propagate through the water medium to transmit positioning information between satellites and underwater vehicles, effectively bridging the gap between satellite-based navigation and underwater operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electromagnetic radio signal system with an acoustic signal system for underwater navigation. This substitution allows the navigation function to work underwater by using sound waves instead of radio waves, which cannot penetrate water effectively.
2Measurement precision
If the long-baseline method with beacons is used to determine position underwater, then positioning accuracy is improved, but operational costs and device complexity increase due to expensive beacon placement and calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the positioning function from the complex beacon infrastructure. Instead of requiring multiple beacons to be placed and calibrated on the sea bottom, the system uses a single surface transmitter that combines positioning and communication functions, eliminating the need for complex beacon deployment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface transmitter serves multiple functions: it acts as a positioning reference, a communication node, and a recovery platform. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate beacon systems, reducing both device complexity and operational costs while maintaining positioning accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If acoustic signals are transmitted from surface to underwater vehicles, then navigation is enabled, but latency increases due to several seconds transmission time despite high speed of sound
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning by having the underwater vehicle determine its position relative to the surface transmitter using acoustic signals. This preliminary position information is then used to optimize subsequent communication and navigation operations, reducing overall latency by avoiding repeated full-position calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the underwater vehicle continuously reports its position and the surface transmitter adjusts its signals accordingly. This feedback loop optimizes signal transmission timing and reduces latency by maintaining synchronized operation between surface and underwater components.
4Loss of energy
If directional signal transmission is used to minimize energy loss, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for precise directional control
Solution Approach 1:
The surface transmitter dynamically adjusts its signal direction to always point toward the underwater vehicle's current position. This dynamic directional control optimizes energy efficiency by concentrating acoustic energy in the direction of the target, minimizing energy loss while the complexity is managed through automated position-based steering algorithms.
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
Improves navigation accuracy and reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for beacon placement and calibration, while minimizing latency and signal energy loss, enabling precise three-dimensional positioning of underwater vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a transmitting unit that is configured to emit a first signal such that a runtime of the first signal can be determined by the underwater vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a receiver for receiving at least a first signal, wherein the first signal is transmitted in a directional manner by a first surface transmitter such that a runtime of the first signal can be determined
Data Source
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.