Recessed Well Deck Launch and Recovery for Semi-Submersible UUVs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current unmanned vehicle designs are limited to specific environments and tasks, lacking the capability for multi-environment and multi-task operations, and existing launch and recovery systems are cumbersome, unreliable, and pose safety risks, especially in high sea states, with no autonomous solutions available for high-performance vessels or unmanned maritime vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode unmanned vehicle with a catamaran-like hull featuring a recessed well deck, buoyancy control system, and advanced sensor systems for autonomous navigation and payload management, enabling efficient launch and recovery of various payloads in marine and submarine environments with enhanced speed, maneuverability, and operational autonomy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional launch and recovery systems (winches, booms, davits) are used, then vessels and payloads can be launched and recovered, but the systems are cumbersome, unreliable, and pose safety risks especially in high sea states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hoist mechanism from the host vessel entirely, allowing the payload to be launched and recovered without mechanical lifting equipment on the host vessel. The payload is instead lowered directly into the water from the recessed well deck, eliminating the complex winch, boom, or davit systems that create reliability and safety issues in high sea states.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using mechanical hoist mechanisms to lift payloads onto the deck, the system inverts the approach by having the recessed well deck lower directly into the water. This inversion eliminates the need for complex lifting machinery and reduces the mechanical complexity while improving reliability.
2Extent of automation
If conventional manned vehicle designs are retrofitted for unmanned operation, then unmanned capability is achieved, but operational and performance envelope limitations are inherited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal recessed well deck structure that can accommodate multiple types of payloads including vessels, equipment, and people. This multi-functional design allows the same basic structure to support diverse operations across different environments (marine and submarine), achieving versatility without being constrained by manned vehicle design limitations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic positioning and orientation control to adapt to varying sea states and operational conditions. The host vessel can dynamically adjust its position and the well deck can be positioned optimally for launch and recovery operations, enabling reliable autonomous operation across a broader operational envelope than static conventional designs.
3Extent of automation
If autonomous launch and recovery systems are implemented, then operational autonomy is enhanced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service autonomous operation where the host vessel independently positions itself, orients the recessed well deck, and executes payload launch and recovery without human intervention. The sensor systems and control systems work together to enable the vessel to service itself during operations, achieving high autonomy while managing complexity through integrated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensor systems that provide real-time feedback on vessel position, orientation, and payload status. This feedback enables the control system to make autonomous adjustments during launch and recovery operations, achieving reliable autonomous operation through closed-loop control that manages system complexity through intelligent feedback mechanisms.
4Speed
If high-performance vessels are used for launch and recovery, then speed and maneuverability are improved, but safety risks increase in high sea states with conventional systems
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the mechanical hoist mechanisms from high-performance vessels, the patent eliminates the safety risks associated with operating complex lifting equipment in high sea states. The simplified system of lowering payloads directly into water from the recessed well deck maintains the speed and maneuverability benefits of high-performance vessels while removing the harmful safety risks.
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 allows for autonomous and efficient launch and recovery of payloads in challenging marine environments, enhancing the utility and safety of unmanned vessels by providing high-performance navigation and payload management capabilities across multiple modes of operation.
Implementation Method 1
A buoyancy control system is configured to control buoyancy of the unmanned vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
The systems and associated methods are for autonomously launching and recovering payload objects such as vessels, equipment and people by partially submerging a multi-mode unmanned vehicle in a controlled manner. Mechanical, power, signal and logical system components operate in a coordinated manner to repeatedly and reliably perform unmanned launch and recovery of payloads in a variety of conditions and sea states from a catamaran style hull with multi-mode, high-performance characteristics.