Vessel-towed multiple sensor systems and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9958544-B2
Application number	US-201615075084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 18, 2015
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

An embodiment can include a vessel-towed system that includes a first towing/communication interface system, e.g., a first tow cable with a fiber optic system, and spaced apart buoys for supporting the first tow cable. A first mobile structure including a first control system and first type of emitter, e.g., an attraction system, is connected to the first tow cable. A second mobile structure is provided that can include an underwater towed emitter such as an audio emulation system. The first and second emitters can be configured emit a first and second plurality of emissions for inducing a receiving entity response. The second mobile structure is coupled with the first mobile structure with a second tow cable that comprises another fiber optic cable. An automated response or manual control systems can be provided on the towing vessel and the first mobile structure adapted to operate the first and second emitters.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A towed attraction/emulation/response alteration (AERA) system comprising:
a control center comprising an input and output interface system;
a winch system coupled to the input and output interface system;
a first tow cable coupled to the winch system that comprises a fiber optic cable, said first tow cable further comprises a plurality of flotation or support sections spaced apart adapted to support the first tow cable;
a first towed AERA body coupled to said first tow cable configured to receive control signals and power through said first tow cable, said first towed AERA body comprises at least a first emitter operable to emit a first plurality of signals, wherein said first towed AERA body comprises a support section operable to support said first towed AERA body above or within a fluid, wherein said first towed AERA body comprises a second control system that is in communication with said first control system, said second control system is operable to control said first emitter based on inputs from said first controls system or based on predetermined instructions;
a second tow cable comprising second fiber optic cable extending from said first towed AERA body, said second two cable is coupled to said second control system;
a second towed AERA body comprising a second emitter that is operable to either be towed above or on said fluid or underneath said fluid and is configured to receive control signals and power from said second control system; and
a signal cutout switch, wherein said input and output interface and said winch system are connected to a signal cutout switch;
wherein said local input and output interface and said winch system are connected to a multiplexer.

2. A towed AERA system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said input and output interface is configured to communicate through said first tow cable to said first towed AERA body.

3. A towed AERA system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of buoys are adapted with a shape to reduce drag from passage of said buoys through a fluid medium that supports said buoys.

4. A towed AERA system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein an anti-threat body configured with a third emitter and is coupled to said first towed AERA body.

5. A towed AERA system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first control center comprises a remote control system that selectively controls one or more elements of said AERA body via remote control, wherein said remote control comprises a separate radio frequency or laser communication system that communicates control signals with said first AERA system.

6. A search system comprising:
an automated vessel and onboard systems comprising a propulsion system, a first search system, a first controller, a maneuvering system, a navigation system, a first power system, a first towed system interface system, and a first communication system;
a first towed system comprising a second search system and a second communication system;
a second towed system coupled to said first towed system, said second towed system configured to be towed underwater, said second towed system comprising a controls system, a third system interface section configured to transmit and receive data or signals to said first towed system, and a sonar system configured to directionally detect a plurality of sound patterns, said plurality of sound patterns are stored on a non-transitory data storage medium and configured to be read and used to match sounds detected by said sonar system with one or more of said plurality of sound patterns, said plurality of sound patterns comprising a sonar ping produced from a sonar pinger system coupled to an aircraft flight recorder, at least one aircraft water crash sound pattern, and a plurality of biologic sound patterns comprising one or more whale sounds;
wherein the power system comprises a power storage system and a solar power system configured to provide power to the automated vessel;
wherein the search system comprises a first traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) configured to detect TCAS signals from aircraft configured with an aircraft TCAS;
wherein the communication system comprises a radio frequency transceiver, a radio frequency radar transponder configured to transmit on naval navigation band frequencies to show a radar return and data on another vessel's navigation radar system;
wherein the controller is configured to control components and systems on the automated vessel and search system comprising the search system, the controller, the maneuvering system, the navigation system, the power system, and the communication system;
wherein the navigation system comprises a navigation management system configured to control the vehicle's course, a global positioning system and an inertial measuring unit including a connected to the controller;
wherein the maneuvering system comprising a rudder and a rudder actuating system controlled by the controller, a sail control system configured to adjust the a first and second sail on the automated sailboat comprising a plurality of sail positioning actuator or control elements and a plurality of coupling sections respectively coupling the first and second sails to each of the plurality of sail positioning actuator or control elements.

Assignees

• Us Navy
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Lanham Robert S
• Stocke Jr William R

Classifications

• B63H25/38

  Rudders · CPC title

• F41J9/06

  towed · CPC title

• G01S13/862

  Combination of radar systems with sonar systems · CPC title

• G01S15/88

  Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications (seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00) · CPC title

• G01S7/003

  Transmission of data between radar, sonar or lidar systems and remote stations · CPC title