Autonomous underwater vehicle with external, deployable payload

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9701378-B2
Application number	US-201514627743-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 20, 2015
Priority date	Feb 21, 2014
Publication date	Jul 11, 2017
Grant date	Jul 11, 2017

Abstract

An AUV is described that includes an external, deployable payload releasably attached to the exterior of the AUV. The release mechanism between the payload and the AUV is relatively simple and low cost. The payload is mounted external to the AUVs hull and does not significantly increase the cost of the AUV to which it is attached. There are no complex release mechanisms or intermediate launch systems attached to the AUV. Therefore, the described AUV can deploy payloads, such as sensors, that would normally be deployed from a manned platform. This can increase the payload capability of a small expendable AUV without increasing volume or cost of the AUV.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination comprising an autonomous underwater vehicle with an exterior surface and a displaced volume, and an external expendable ballast tank releasably deployable from the autonomous underwater vehicle;
the external expendable ballast tank is releasably connected to the exterior surface of the autonomous underwater vehicle by a releasable mechanism;
the external expendable ballast tank includes a hull having a first section and a hollow section;
a plurality of openings formed in the hull that place the hollow section in fluid communication with an exterior of the hull;
the first section includes at least one battery that provides power to the external expendable ballast tank and control electronics that control operation of the external expendable ballast tank;
the hollow section includes an air outlet through which air from the hollow section can flow and a first valve controlling the flow of air through the air outlet; and
the external expendable ballast tank includes a tank containing a supply of high pressure gas, a high pressure gas outlet fluidly connected to the tank and discharging into the hollow section, and a second valve controlling the flow of high pressure gas from the tank into the hollow section through the high pressure gas outlet.

2. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first section is a dry section that is fluidly separated from the hollow section to prevent ingress of water into the dry section.

3. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the first valve and the second valve comprise solenoid valves that are controlled by the control electronics.

4. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the external expendable ballast tank further includes a pressure transducer that senses the pressure of outside water acting on the hull.

5. The combination of claim 1 , wherein the external expendable ballast tank further includes a mission specific package disposed within the hull.

6. An external expendable ballast tank that is releasably mountable on an autonomous underwater vehicle, comprising:
a hull having a first section and a hollow section;
a plurality of openings formed in the hull that place the hollow section in fluid communication with an exterior of the hull;
the first section includes at least one battery that provides power to the external expendable ballast tank and control electronics that control operation of the external expendable ballast tank;
the hollow section includes an air outlet through which air from the hollow section can flow and a first valve controlling the flow of air through the air outlet; and
a tank containing a supply of high pressure gas, a high pressure gas outlet fluidly connected to the tank and discharging into the hollow section, and a second valve controlling the flow of high pressure gas from the tank into the hollow section through the high pressure gas outlet.

7. The external expendable ballast tank of claim 6 , wherein the first section is a dry section that is fluidly separated from the hollow section to prevent ingress of water into the dry section.

8. The external expendable ballast tank of claim 6 , wherein the first valve and the second valve comprise solenoid valves that are controlled by the control electronics.

9. The external expendable ballast tank of claim 6 , further including a pressure transducer that senses the pressure of outside water acting on the hull.

10. The external expendable ballast tank of claim 6 , further including a mission specific package disposed within the hull.

11. A method comprising submerging the combination of claim 1 under water, using the external expendable ballast tank to control and maintain a predetermined depth of the autonomous underwater vehicle, and letting the combination loiter and drift for a predetermined period time in the water.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising deploying the external expendable ballast tank from the autonomous underwater vehicle while the combination is submerged under the water.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the autonomous underwater vehicle is dormant while the combination loiters and drifts for the predetermined period time.

14. The method of claim 12 , after deploying the external expendable ballast tank, performing one of the following:
a) scuttling the external expendable ballast tank by opening the first valve so that the external expendable ballast tank sinks to the bottom; or
b) controlling the first and second valves so that the external expendable ballast tank rises to or near the surface of the water, the external expendable ballast tank then performs a mission, and after the mission is completed scuttling the external expendable ballast tank by opening the first valve so that the external expendable ballast tank sinks to the bottom.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Sylvia Russell M
• Gordon Jr Robert P
• Lewis Martin C

Classifications

• B63G8/22

  Adjustment of buoyancy by water ballasting; Emptying equipment for ballast tanks ({conduits for emptying or ballasting on vessels in general B63B13/00;} stabilising vessels using ballast tanks B63B43/06) · CPC title

• B63G8/001 Primary

  Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42) · CPC title

• B63G2008/004

  autonomously operating · CPC title

• B63G8/08

  Propulsion ({schnorkels B63G8/36;} nuclear propulsion B63H21/18; submerged exhausting apparatus F01N13/12) · CPC title