Unmanned undersea vehicle with erectable sensor mast for obtaining position and environmental vehicle status

• US 5,686,694 A
• Filed: 10/11/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Hillenbrand, Christopher F., Gomez, Donald T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lattig, Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US08/540,608
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 114/21.2, 114/312, 114/316, 114/317, 114/318, 114/322, 114/340, 342/357
• US Class Current: 114/21.2
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/38 Arrangement of visual or electronic watch equipment, e.g. of periscopes, of radar periscopes, optical aiming or sighting devices per se G02B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/32 for wire-guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/346 using global navigation satellite systems, e.g. GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/01 Steering control

Abstract

In brief summary, the invention provides an unmanned undersea vehicle sys comprising a mother vehicle and a daughter unmanned undersea vehicle. The unmanned undersea vehicle has an erectable observation mast for obtaining environmental information. A communication link interconnects the mother vehicle and the unmanned undersea vehicle for transferring command information from the mother vehicle to the unmanned undersea vehicle and unmanned undersea vehicle status information from the unmanned undersea vehicle to the mother vehicle.

Claims

1. An unmanned undersea vehicle system comprising:

a mother vehicle and a daughter unmanned undersea vehicle;

said unmanned undersea vehicle having an erectable observation mast for obtaining environmental information, which mast includes image recording means for recording an image; and

a communication link interconnecting the mother vehicle and the unmanned undersea vehicle for transferring command information from the mother vehicle to the unmanned undersea vehicle and unmanned undersea vehicle status information from the unmanned undersea vehicle to the mother vehicle.