Underwater intelligence gathering weapon system

• US 6,220,168 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Sojdehei, John, Garcia, Felipe, Woodall, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Semunegus, Lulit
• Application Number:
  US09/304,537
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 102/413, 102/411, 102/417, 102/414, 102/214, 102/212, 367/3, 367/134
• US Class Current: 102/411
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/003 adapted for being launched from an aircraft or water vehicle;, e.g. with brakes deployed in the water
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 22/06 Ground mines
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 22/44 adapted to be launched from aircraft

Abstract

An underwater intelligence gathering weapon system accurately places a weapon underwater and then communicates therewith from other platform(s). The weapon is equipped to maneuver through the air to a destination at the water'"'"'s surface. A first transceiver, mounted onboard the weapon and coupled to the mine'"'"'s logic portion, is activated after the weapon is in the water. The first transceiver can send and receive magneto-inductive signals. A second transceiver that sends and receives magneto-inductive signals is remotely located with respect to the first transceiver. Once deployed, the weapon can be controlled from a safe distance and can report any intelligence information collected by onboard sensors.

Claims

1. An underwater weapon system comprising:

a mine equipped to travel in air to a destination at the surface of a body of water;

a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving magneto-inductive signals, said first transceiver mounted onboard and coupled to said mine, said first transceiver being activated after said mine arrives at said destination; and

a second transceiver for transmitting and receiving magneto-inductive signals, said second transceiver being remotely located with respect to said first transceiver, said second transceiver communicating with said first transceiver using the body of water as a transmission media for said magneto-inductive signals.

2. An underwater weapon system as in claim 1 wherein said mine comprises:

a mine casing;

a wing kit coupled to said mine casing for guiding said mine casing through the air and for separating from said mine casing at an in-air location approximately above said destination;

a drag device coupled to said mine casing for reducing the speed of said mine casing as it descends ballistically from said in-air location under the force of gravity towards said destination when said wing kit is separated from said mine casing; and

a safe and arm device coupled to said mine casing for activating said first transceiver when said mine casing strikes the surface of the body of water.

3. An underwater weapon system as in claim 2 wherein said first transceiver includes an antenna wrapped about said mine casing.

4. An underwater weapon system as in claim 2 wherein said wing kit includes GPS navigation capability.

5. An underwater weapon system as in claim 4 wherein said wing kit includes inertial navigation capability.

6. An underwater weapon system as in claim 2 wherein said drag device is a parachute.

7. An underwater weapon system as in claim 1 wherein said mine includes an explosive portion, and further comprising a target detection device programmed to activate said explosive portion in response to a specified stimulus, said target detection device coupled between said first transceiver and said explosive portion wherein activation of said target detection device can be controlled by said magneto-inductive signals received from said second transceiver.

8. An underwater weapon system as in claim 1 wherein said magneto-inductive signals are digital tones modulated at a carrier frequency not to exceed approximately 4000 hertz.

9. An underwater weapon system as in claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor mounted on said mine for detecting a condition, said at least one sensor being coupled to said first transceiver for transmitting said condition in the form of said magneto-inductive signals.

10. An underwater weapon system comprising:

a mine having a logic portion for controlling explosive operation of said mine;

navigation means physically coupled to said mine for maneuvering said mine through the air to a destination at the surface of a body of water after said mine is deployed in air from an aircraft;

a first transceiver mounted onboard said mine and coupled to said logic portion, said first transceiver being activated after said mine arrives at said destination to at least receive signals that will control said logic portion, said signals being transmitted through the body of water as digital tones modulated on a carrier frequency not to exceed approximately 4000 hertz; and

a second transceiver for at least transmitting said signals into the body of water, said second transceiver being remotely located with respect to said first transceiver.

11. An underwater weapon system as in claim 10 further comprising an RF receiver mounted onboard said mine and coupled to said logic portion for receiving radio frequency signals that can control said logic portion while said mine is maneuvering through the air.

12. An underwater weapon system as in claim 10 wherein said first transceiver includes an antenna wire wrapped about said mine.

13. An underwater weapon system as in claim 10 wherein said navigation means comprises:

a wing kit coupled to said mine for guiding said mine through the air and for separating from said mine at an in-air location approximately above said destination;

a drag device coupled to said mine for reducing the speed of said mine as it descends ballistically from said in-air location under the force of gravity towards said destination when said wing kit is separated from said mine; and

a safe and arm device coupled to said mine for activating said first transceiver when said mine strikes the surface of the body of water.

14. An underwater weapon system as in claim 13 wherein said wing kit includes GPS navigation capability.

15. An underwater weapon system as in claim 14 wherein said wing kit includes inertial navigation capability.

16. An underwater weapon system as in claim 13 wherein said drag device is a parachute.

17. An underwater weapon system as in claim 10 further comprising at least one sensor mounted on said mine for detecting a condition, said at least one sensor being coupled to said first transceiver for transmitting said condition in the form of said signals.

18. An underwater intelligence gathering system comprising:

a vehicle equipped to travel in air to a destination at the surface of a body of water;

a first transceiver for transmitting and receiving magneto-inductive signals, said first transceiver mounted onboard and coupled to said vehicle, said first transceiver being activated after said vehicle arrives at said destination;

second transceiver for transmitting and receiving magneto-inductive signals, said second transceiver being remotely located with respect to said first transceiver, said second transceiver communicating with said first transceiver using the body of water as a transmission media for said magneto-inductive signals; and

at least one sensor mounted on said vehicle for detecting a condition, said at least one sensor being coupled to said first transceiver for transmitting said condition in the form of said magneto-inductive signals.

19. An underwater intelligence gathering system as in claim 18 wherein said first transceiver includes an antenna wrapped about said vehicle.

20. An underwater intelligence gathering system as in claim 18 wherein said magneto-inductive signals are digital tones modulated at a carrier frequency not to exceed approximately 4000 hertz.