Methods and apparatus for marine deployment
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsRay Sampson, David E. Bossert, Jeffrey N. Zerbe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims32
A launch system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a floatable housing adapted to be deployed by a marine vehicle and configured to house the unmanned aerial vehicle prior to launch, wherein the floatable housing comprises a flotation system configured to selectively increase or decrease the buoyancy of the floatable housing;
- an ejection system coupled to the floatable housing and adapted to selectively launch the unmanned aerial vehicle out of the floatable housing;
- and
- a control system coupled to the ejection system, wherein the control system is adapted to:
- calculate a launch window from a predetermined set of launch criteria, and
- provide a launch signal to the ejection system within the calculated launch window.
A submarine deployed launch system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising:
- a floatable pressure vessel adapted to be released underwater;
- a launch tube disposed within the floatable pressure vessel, wherein the launch tube is:
- adapted to house the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- and
- configured to be rotated into a non-vertical position prior to deployment of the unmanned aerial vehicle;
- and
- an ejection system engaging the launch tube and configured to launch the unmanned aerial vehicle out of the launch tube in response to a triggering event.
A deployment system for deploying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from an underwater vehicle having a trash disposal unit comprising:
- a housing adapted to fit through the trash disposal unit;
- a flotation system disposed on the housing;
- a launch tube disposed within the housing, wherein the launch tube is adapted to contain the UAV;
- and
- a UAV ejection system disposed within the housing and at a first end of the launch tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.