# US 2021/0276432 A1 · Unmanned undersea vehicle with modular battery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276432 A1 - Document ID: US20210276432A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/876,988 - Filed: 2020-05-18 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-17 - Assignees: L3Harris Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: L3Harris Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Jennifer Martz; Kevin W. Ludlam; Jason D. Aiello; Daryl B. Slocum - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276432A1 ## CPC - B60L 50/66: {Arrangements of batteries} - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - B60L 53/80: Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries - B60L 58/12: responding to state of charge [SoC] - B63G 8/08: Propulsion ({schnorkels B63G8/36;} nuclear propulsion B63H21/18; submerged exhausting apparatus F01N13/12) - B60L 2200/32: Waterborne vessels - B60L 2240/54: related to batteries - B60L 2260/32: Auto pilot mode - B63G 2008/002: {unmanned} - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B63G: OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; SUBMARINES; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS (means of attack or defence in general, e.g. turrets F41H) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An underwater vehicle includes a modular battery system. The modular battery system includes at least one removable battery tray. The modular battery system further includes a battery tray system configured to hold at least one removable battery tray. The modular battery system further includes a controller coupled to the at least one removable battery tray that is configured to detect the battery chemistry of the at least one removable battery tray. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An underwater vehicle comprising: a modular battery system, further comprising: at least one removable battery tray; a battery tray system configured to hold at least one removable battery tray; and a controller coupled to the at least one removable battery tray, and configured to detect a battery chemistry of the at least one removable battery tray. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The underwater vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an aft section and a forward section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The underwater vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the aft section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The underwater vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the forward section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The underwater vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the aft section and at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the forward section, wherein the at least one removable battery tray enclosed within the aft section is connected to the at least one removable battery tray enclosed within the forward section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The underwater vehicle of claim 1, wherein the removable battery tray comprises a battery chemistry of at least one of nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries, primary alkaline, or lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The underwater vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an aft section, at least one optional battery section, and a forward section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The underwater vehicle of claim 7, wherein at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the optional battery section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The underwater vehicle of claim 7, wherein at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the aft section, at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the forward section, and at least one removable battery tray is enclosed within the optional battery section, wherein the at least one removable battery tray enclosed within the aft section is connected to the at least one removable battery tray enclosed within the optional battery section, and the at least one removable battery tray enclosed within the optional battery section is connected to the at least one removable batter pack enclosed within the forward section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The underwater vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of optional battery sections attached to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The underwater vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect the battery chemistry of the at least one removable battery tray by reading firmware of the at least one removable battery tray. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The underwater vehicle of claim 1, further comprising s a ballast control system comprising a plurality of spaced holes along a rail, the rail for receiving the at least one removable battery tray, the holes configured to receive weighted plugs for controlling at least one of ballast or balance of the underwater vehicle. ### Claim 13 A method of using a battery tray, the method comprising: at battery controller at an underwater vehicle, detecting that a removable battery tray has been connected to the controller; as a result, at the batter controller, detecting a battery chemistry of the removable battery tray; and as a result, at the battery controller, controlling at least one of a charging or discharging modality according to the detected battery chemistry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the battery chemistry of the removable battery tray comprises detecting that the battery tray comprises nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the battery chemistry of the removable battery tray comprises detecting that the battery tray comprises primary alkaline batteries. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the battery chemistry of the removable battery tray comprises detecting that the battery tray comprises lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein detecting the battery chemistry of the removable battery tray comprises reading a firmware code on the battery tray. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the firmware code on the battery tray comprises a two bit code representing one of four different choices for battery chemistry. ### Claim 19 A modular battery system for an underwater vehicle comprising: a battery rail system, configured to be placed in a section of the underwater vehicle, comprising at least one rail, and configured to hold at least one removable battery tray; the at least one removable battery tray coupled to the battery tray system, the at least one removable battery tray configured to be selectively removable from the underwater vehicle by sliding the at least one removable battery tray along the at least one rail within the section of the underwater vehicle; firmware coupled to the battery tray, the firmware comprising a code indicating the battery chemistry of the battery tray. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The modular battery system of claim 19, wherein the at least one rail comprises a ballast control system comprising a plurality of spaced holes along the at least one rail, the holes configured to receive weighted plugs for controlling at least one of ballast or balance of the underwater vehicle.