Methods and apparatus for marine deployment
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsDavid E. Bossert, Jeffrey N. Zerbe, Ray Sampson
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims18
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.