Underwater small target weapon

• US 6,359,833 B1
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• 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: English, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US09/770,793
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 367/133, 367/134, 367/131, 89/11.3, 244/3.12, 114/316, 114/328, 114/330, 114/331, 114/338
• US Class Current: 367/133
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/228 using acoustic waves, e.g. for torpedoes
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/346 using global navigation satellite systems, e.g. GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/18 Military applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end

Abstract

A small target weapon (STW) delivers a warhead to a remote target and detonates it in response to remote command signals from a swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) and internal control signals generated by a self-contained internal electronics section. When deployed from the SDV, STW is capable of traveling several nautical miles underwater. The STW contains a warhead section and has a spool of optical fiber disposed aft to deploy optical fiber from the housing as it transits through water from a submerged delivery vehicle. Motor-driven propellers disposed aft on the housing of the STW propel it the through the water, and a mast member extends above the housing. Control fins disposed aft on the housing, a vertical thruster and the motor driven propellers are controlled by electronics sections and guidance and control sections to selectively keep the housing beneath the surface of the water and the mast member extending through the surface. Sensor systems on the mast member and a sonar system on the housing provide GPS data signals, optical data signals, non-visible radiation, and sonar data signals, and radio, acoustic, and optical command signals from the SDV steer the STW to and detonate warhead section at the target. GPS signals sensed on the mast member that extends above the water while the rest of STW is submerged assure navigation as STW traverses the distance from the SDV to the target. The cameras, non visible light sources, and antennas on mast member also may be used to locate, identify, and transit to the target. During the terminal phase of the run to the target, the STW may activate the onboard sonar to acquire and home-in on the target.

Claims

1. An unmanned submersible comprising:

an elongate housing having a spool of optical fiber disposed aft to deploy optical fiber from said housing during transit through water from a submerged delivery vehicle;

a warhead section in said housing;

motor-driven propellers disposed aft on said housing and radially outwardly from said spool of optical fiber to propel said housing through said water;

a mast member disposed forward on said housing to extend above said housing and the surface of said water;

a plurality of fins disposed aft on said housing;

a vertical thruster having a propeller assembly;

an electronics section in said housing; and

a guidance and control section in said housing coupled to said electronics section and to said fins, said motor driven propellers, and said vertical thruster, said motor driven propeller, said fins, and said propeller assembly being controlled by said electronics section and said guidance and control section to selectively maintain said housing beneath said surface of said water and said mast member extending through said surface of said water.

2. An interface system according to claim 1 wherein said vertical thruster, said motor driven propellers, said fins, and said propeller assembly selectively maintain said housing beneath said surface of said water and said mast member extending through said surface of said water during transiting and hovering therein.

3. An unmanned submersible according to claim 2 further comprising:

at least part of a GPS system on said mast member to provide GPS data signals representative of location of said unmanned submersible as said mast member extends through said surface of said water;

at least part of a camera system on said mast member to provide data signals representative of ambient features; and

a non-visible light source on said mast member to radiate said non-visible light for said camera system.

4. An unmanned submersible according to claim 3 further comprising:

a sonar system mounted low and forward on said housing to project acoustic energy signals to ensonify a region and receive reflected portions of said ensonifying acoustic energy to provide acoustic data signals representative of ambient marine features.

5. An unmanned submersible according to claim 4 wherein said sonar system receives acoustic command signals from and transmits said acoustic data signals to said submerged delivery vehicle to permit acoustic communication with said submerged delivery vehicle.

6. An unmanned submersible according to claim 5 further comprising:

a radio antenna on said mast member to receive radio command signals from said delivery vehicle when it is on the surface.

7. An unmanned submersible according to claim 6 wherein said radio antenna may be used to transmit radio data signals to said delivery vehicle.

8. An unmanned submersible according to claim 7 wherein said electronics section inside said housing has processing and logic modules coupled to receive data signals from said camera system, said GPS antenna, said radio antenna, and said sonar system to create internal control signals.

9. An unmanned submersible according to claim 8 wherein said electronics section further includes processing, logic and transceiver modules responsive to acoustic command signals received by said sonar system, optical command signals received over said optical fiber, and radio command signals received by said radio antenna to create internal control signals.

10. An unmanned submersible according to claim 9 wherein said guidance and control section in said housing coupled to said electronics section generates actuating signals in response to internal control signals.

11. An unmanned submersible according to claim 10 wherein said actuating signals are coupled to said fins, said tunnel thruster, and said propellers to effect responsive displacements thereof.

12. An unmanned submersible according to claim 11 further comprising:

a contact detonator forward in said housing to detonate said warhead section upon contact with a target.

13. An unmanned submersible according to claim 12 further comprising:

a proximity detonator in said warhead section preset to detonate said warhead section at a lethal proximity of said target.

14. An unmanned submersible according to claim 13 wherein said electronics section and guidance and control section are preprogrammable to operate in a programmed automatic mode of guidance and detonation of said warhead section at said target, and said electronics section and guidance and control section are operable in a manual mode of operation by an operator in said delivery vehicle that sends command signals to transit to said target and detonate said warhead section.

15. An unmanned submersible according to claim 14 wherein said non-visible light source system mounted on said mast member allows operation of said camera system underwater, above water, and at night to avoid detection from the surface and allow navigation to and inspection of said target.

16. An unmanned, underwater small target weapon to destroy a target in the water comprising:

an elongate housing having a spool of optical fiber disposed aft to deploy optical fiber from said housing during transit through water from a swimmer delivery vehicle;

a warhead section in said housing capable of neutralizing a target;

motor-driven propellers disposed aft on said housing and radially outwardly from said spool of optical fiber to propel said housing through said water;

a mast member disposed forward on said housing to extend above said housing and the surface of said water;

a plurality of fins disposed aft on said housing;

a vertical thruster having a propeller assembly, said motor driven propeller, said fins, and said propeller assembly being controlled to selectively maintain said housing beneath said surface of said water and said mast member extending through said surface of said water, said vertical thruster, said motor driven propellers, said fins, and said propeller assembly selectively maintaining said housing beneath said surface of said water and said mast member extending through said surface of said water during transiting and hovering therein;

at least part of a GPS system on said mast member to provide GPS data signals representative of location of said small target weapon as said mast member extends through said surface of said water;

at least part of a camera system on said mast member to provide data signals representative of ambient features;

a non-visible light source on said mast member to radiate said non-visible light for said camera system, said non-visible light source system mounted on said mast member allowing operation of said camera system underwater, above water, and at night to avoid detection from the surface and allow navigation to and inspection of said target;

a sonar system mounted low and forward on said housing to project acoustic energy signals to ensonify a region and receive reflected portions of said ensonifying acoustic energy to provide acoustic data signals representative of ambient features, said sonar system receiving acoustic command signals from and transmitting said acoustic data signals to said swimmer delivery vehicle to permit acoustic communication with said swimmer delivery vehicle;

a radio antenna on said mast member to receive radio command signals from said swimmer delivery vehicle when it is on the surface, said radio antenna being used to transmit radio data signals to said swimmer delivery vehicle;

an electronics section inside said housing having processing and logic modules coupled to receive data signals from said camera system, said GPS antenna, said radio antenna, and said sonar system to create internal control signals, said electronics section including processing, logic and transceiver modules responsive to acoustic command signals received by said sonar system, optical command signals received over said optical fiber, and radio command signals received by said radio antenna to create internal control signals;

a guidance and control section in said housing coupled to said electronics section to generate actuating signals in response to internal control signals, said actuating signals being coupled to said fins, said tunnel thruster, and said propellers to effect responsive displacements thereof, said electronics section and guidance and control section being preprogrammable to operate in a programmed automatic mode of guidance to and detonation of said warhead section at said target, and said electronics section and guidance and control section being operable in a manual mode of operation by an operator in said delivery vehicle that sends command signals to transit to said target and detonate said warhead section;

a contact detonator forward in said housing to detonate said warhead section upon contact with said target; and

a proximity detonator in said warhead section preset to detonate said warhead section at a lethal proximity of said target.