Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Based Sonar Buoy

• US 20120138727A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbit Systems of America LLC (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Elbit Systems of America LLC (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Fisher, Jeremy F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,492,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/3.15
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/13 using external fans or propellers
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/15 using combustion exhausts other than turbojets or turbofans, e.g. using rockets, ramjets, scramjets or pulse-reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 1/08 Multibarrel guns, e.g. twin guns
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/042 the launching apparatus being used also as a transport container for the rocket F41F3/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/10 Missiles having a trajectory only in the air

Abstract

A sonar buoy includes a fuselage having a tube-like shape, one or more wings coupled to the fuselage, an engine coupled to the fuselage and operable to propel the sonar buoy through flight, and a guidance computer operable to direct the sonar buoy to a predetermined location. The sonar buoy further includes a sonar detachably coupled to the fuselage and forming at least a part of the fuselage, and a rocket motor detachably coupled to the fuselage. The one or more wings are operable to be folded into a position to allow the sonar buoy to be disposed within a launch tube coupled to a vehicle and to automatically deploy to an appropriate position for flight after the sonar buoy is launched from the launch tube. The rocket motor propels the sonar buoy from the launch tube and detaches from the fuselage after launch.

Claims

1. A sonar buoy comprising:

a fuselage having a tube-like shape;

one or more wings coupled to the fuselage and operable to be folded into a position to allow the sonar buoy to be disposed within a launch tube coupled to a vehicle, the one or more wings further operable to automatically deploy to an appropriate position for flight after the sonar buoy is launched from the launch tube;

an engine coupled to the fuselage and operable to propel the sonar buoy through flight;

a guidance computer operable to direct the sonar buoy to a predetermined location;

a sonar detachably coupled to the fuselage, the sonar forming at least a part of the fuselage; and

a rocket motor detachably coupled to the fuselage and operable to;

propel the sonar buoy from the launch tube; and

detach from the fuselage after propelling the sonar buoy from the launch tube.

2. The sonar buoy of claim 1, wherein the sonar comprises an active sonar.

3. The sonar buoy of claim 1, wherein the sonar comprises a passive sonar.

4. The sonar buoy of claim 1, wherein the one or more wings are detachably coupled to the fuselage and operable to automatically detach from the fuselage after the sonar buoy lands in water.

5. The sonar buoy of claim 1, wherein the sonar is operable to detach from the fuselage on command.

6. The sonar buoy of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle that travels on water.

7. A sonar buoy comprising:

a fuselage having a tube-like shape;

one or more wings coupled to the fuselage and operable to be folded into a position to allow the sonar buoy to be disposed within a launch tube, the one or more wings further operable to automatically deploy to an appropriate position for flight after the sonar buoy is launched from the launch tube;

an engine operable to propel the sonar buoy through flight; and

a sonar coupled to and forming at least a part of the fuselage.

8. The sonar buoy of claim 7, further comprising a guidance computer operable to direct the sonar buoy to a predetermined location.

9. The sonar buoy of claim 7, wherein the sonar comprises an active sonar.

10. The sonar buoy of claim 7, wherein the sonar comprises a passive sonar.

11. The sonar buoy of claim 7, wherein the one or more wings are detachably coupled to the fuselage and are operable to automatically detach from the fuselage after the sonar buoy lands in water.

12. The sonar buoy of claim 7, wherein the sonar is detachably coupled to the fuselage, the sonar operable to detach from the fuselage on command.

13. The sonar buoy of claim 7, further comprising a rocket motor detachably coupled to the sonar buoy and operable to:

propel the sonar buoy from the launch tube; and

detach from the sonar buoy after propelling the sonar buoy from the launch tube.

14. A system comprising:

a launch tube coupled to a vehicle; and

a sonar buoy operable to be launched from the launch tube, the sonar buoy comprising;

a fuselage having a tube-like shape;

one or more wings coupled to the fuselage and operable to be folded into a position to allow the sonar buoy to be disposed within the launch tube, the one or more wings further operable to automatically deploy to an appropriate position for flight after the sonar buoy is launched from the launch tube;

an engine operable to propel the sonar buoy through flight; and

a sonar coupled to and forming at least a part of the fuselage.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a guidance computer operable to direct the sonar buoy to a predetermined location.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle that travels on water.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle that travels on land.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more wings are detachably coupled to the fuselage and are operable to automatically detach from the fuselage after the sonar buoy lands in water.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the sonar is detachably coupled to the fuselage, the sonar operable to detach from the fuselage on command.

20. The system of claim 14, further comprising a rocket motor detachably coupled to the sonar buoy and operable to:

propel the sonar buoy from the launch tube; and

detach from the sonar buoy after propelling the sonar buoy from the launch tube.