Underwater unmanned vehicle recovery system and method

US7854569B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

• Ryan Stenson · Washington, US
• Daniel Braun · Ossining, US
• Lonnie A. Hamme · Jamul, US
• Christopher D. Mailey · Durham, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 11, 2008
• Grant date: Dec 21, 2010
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B63G2008/008
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In various embodiments, an apparatus for use in the recovery of unmanned underwater vehicles includes a recovery vehicle configured to be coupled to a winch via a tether. The recovery vehicle includes one or more sensors for locating the unmanned underwater vehicle, a first mechanical linking device for coupling the recovery vehicle to the unmanned underwater vehicle, and a plurality of steering mechanisms for actively guiding the unmanned underwater vehicle in such a way as to allow the first mechanical linking device to capture the unmanned underwater vehicle by locking onto a second mechanical linking device of the unmanned underwater vehicle.