Underwater guide vehicle for removal of submerged and floating navigational hazards
AssigneeKaman Aerospace Corporation
InventorsRobert S. Manthy, R. Norris Keeler, Kirk Daniels, Patrick L. Renehan, Anthony R. Wells
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An underwater maneuverable vehicle is presented which carries an explosive charge and can be used for immediate removal or destruction of various menaces to navigation and other underwater hazards. The battery powered vehicle is air dropped from a platform which carries an imaging lidar system for detection and is operated and navigationally controlled in conjunction with an imaging lidar system.
Claims24
Apparatus for removal of navigational hazards in the water from a platform positioned above the water, comprising:
- (1) a discrete vehicle detachably attachable to said platform, said vehicle including;
- (a) propulsion means for moving said vehicle in water;
- (b) directional guidance means for directionally maneuvering said vehicle in water;
- (c) explosive means for detonating said vehicle at a selected navigational hazard;
- (d) control means for controlling said directional guidance means;
- and
- (e) communications means for communicating navigational instructions to said control means;
- (2) imaging sensor means positioned on said platform, said imaging sensor means providing images of both a selected navigational hazard and said vehicle;
- and
- (3) command means for wireless transmission of navigational instructions to said communication means of said vehicle, said navigational instructions being responsive to said images from said imaging sensor means.
A method of removing navigational hazards in the water comprising the steps of:
- releasing a discrete maneuverable vehicle into a body of water from a platform, the vehicle including explosive means for detonating said vehicle at a selected navigational hazard;
- using imaging sensor means positioned on said platform to obtain an image of said released vehicle and a selected navigational hazard;
- controlling the direction of movement of said vehicle from said platform based on image input from said imaging sensor means wherein said vehicle is directed to a vicinity at or near the selected navigational hazard and wherein said explosive means is detonated to remove said navigational hazard.
An apparatus for removing navigational hazards in the water comprising:
- a discrete maneuverable vehicle releasable into a body of water from a platform, the vehicle including expolsive means for detonating said vehicle at a selected navigational hazard;
- imaging sensor means positioned on said platform to obtain an image of said released vehicle and a selected navigational hazard;
- means for controlling the direction of movement of said vehicle from said platform based on image input from said imaging sensor means wherein said vehicle is directed to a vicinity at or near the selected navigational hazard and wherein said explosive means is detonated to remove said navigational hazard.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.