Methods and apparatus for marine deployment

• US 8,056,461 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation), Ultra Electronics Maritime Systems, Inc. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Zerbe, Jeffrey N., Sampson, Ray, Bossert, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred; J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US12/233,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20110073707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 89/18.09, 89/18.1, 244/63, 114/316, 114/318, 114/319
• US Class Current: 89/1.809
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/07 Underwater launching-apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/20 Missiles having a trajectory beginning below water surface having additional propulsion means for movement through water F42B17/00

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for marine deployment according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with a floatable housing adapted to be deployed by a marine vehicle. The floatable housing may be adapted to be launched from a marine vehicle and rise to the surface. Assets, such as an unmanned aerial vehicle, may be deployed from the surfaced floatable housing.

Claims

1. An underwater method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:

releasing a floatable canister from a submerged surface of a marine vehicle, wherein a launch tube is further disposed within the floatable canister and is configured to house the unmanned aerial vehicle;

allowing the floatable canister to controllably rise to the surface of the water;

detecting the direction of a prevailing wind and orienting the floatable canister such that the unmanned aerial vehicle has a predetermined heading with respect to the prevailing wind and

launching the unmanned aerial vehicle out of the launch tube with an ejection system configured to engage the launch tube.

2. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the floatable canister further comprises a flotation device configured to selectively control the buoyancy of the floatable canister.

3. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising rotating the launch tube to a non-vertical position prior to launch.

4. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

orienting the floatable canister such that the unmanned aerial vehicle is launched directly into the prevailing wind;

monitoring an environmental condition; and

determining an optimum launch window according to the environmental condition and a set of predetermined launch criteria.

5. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising extending a drogue from the floatable canister.

6. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising establishing a communicative link between the marine vehicle and the unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the communicative link comprises:

a radio frequency transponder connected to the floatable canister, wherein the transponder is adapted to communicate with the unmanned aerial vehicle; and

a communication tether connecting the radio frequency transponder to the marine vehicle.

8. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the communicative link comprises an UHF antenna connected to the marine vehicle.

9. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising sinking the floatable canister after the unmanned aerial vehicle is launched.

10. A method of deploying an asset underwater from a marine vehicle, comprising:

launching a container containing the asset into the water from the marine vehicle;

floating the container to the surface;

detecting the direction of a prevailing wind and orienting the container such that the asset has a predetermined heading with respect to the prevailing wind; and

deploying the asset from within the container after arriving at the surface.

11. A method of deploying an asset according to claim 10, wherein launching the container comprises releasing the container via a trash disposal unit of the marine vehicle.

12. A method of deploying an asset according to claim 10, wherein floating the container to the surface comprises:

initially maintaining at least one of a negative buoyancy and a substantially neutral buoyancy for the container; and

developing a positive buoyancy for the container.

13. A method of deploying an asset according to claim 10, wherein deploying the asset comprises launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the container.

14. A method of deploying an asset according to claim 13, wherein launching the UAV comprises:

orienting a launch tube into a non-vertical position; and

launching the UAV through the launch tube.

15. A method of deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from an underwater vehicle, comprising:

launching a container containing the UAV from the underwater vehicle;

activating a flotation system coupled to the container;

floating the container to the surface, wherein one end of the container protrudes from the surface of the water;

detecting the direction of a prevailing wind and orienting the container such that the UAV has a predetermined heading with respect to the prevailing wind;

exposing the UAV via the protruding end of the container; and

launching the UAV from the container.

16. A method of deploying a UAV according to claim 15, wherein launching the container comprises releasing the container via a trash disposal unit of the marine vehicle.

17. A method of deploying a UAV according to claim 15, wherein activating the flotation system comprises:

initially maintaining at least one of a negative buoyancy and a substantially neutral

buoyancy for the container; and

developing a positive buoyancy for the container.

18. A method of deploying a UAV according to claim 15, wherein launching the UAV comprises:

orienting a launch tube into a non-vertical position; and

launching the UAV through the launch tube.