l||||l|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||l||||||||l||||||||||||||||||||||||||l| USO0H002254H

(19) United States (12) Statutory Invention Registration (10) Reg. No.: Hebert et al. (54)

(43) Published:

FLOATING PLATFORM FOR REMOTE BASING

US H2254 H Jun. 7, 2011

Primary ExamineriDan Pihulic (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm%}erhard W. Thielman

(75) Inventors: James L. Hebert, Waldorf, MD (US); Eric C. Hansen, Norfolk, VA (US)

(57)

ABSTRACT

An unmanned ?oating platform is provided for continual (73)

Asslgnee: Umted states ofAmenca as

represented by the Secretary of the Navy’ Washington’ DC (Us)

surveillance at a station-keeping position at sea. The plat

form is equipped to dispatch‘ an unmanned vehicle to con duct at least one of observation and rendezvous. The plat

(21) App1,No,; 12/290,866 (22) Filed NOV 4 2008 '

(60)

form includes a hull, ?rst and second hangers, and a liquid storage compartment. The hull has a submerged portion and

l ’

a ?oating portion. The ?rst hanger is equipped for stoWing,

Related US- Application Data ggégisional application N°~ 61/005,117, ?led 011 MW 26, '

deploying and retrieving a self-propelled unmanned vehicle and is substantially disposed in the ?oating portion. The sec ond han er houses e ui ment for electrical

(51) IIlt- ClB63B 35/40

oWer and

(2006-01)

on-board functions. The liquid storage compartment sup plies fuel to the on-board equipment and to the unmanned vehicle. For static stability, the compartment is disposed in

(52)

US. Cl. ...................................... .. 114/259; 114/261

the Submerged portion The platform may also include a

(58)

Field of Classi?cation Search ................ .. 114/259,

1 14/261

See application ?le for complete search history. (56)

References Cited

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets

1,896,546 A

*

2,141,181 A

* 12/1938 Geddes.

2,405,115 A

*

8/1946

3,671,971 A

*

6/1972 Goodbody ________________ __ 343/710

4,416,433 A

* ll/1983 Bellina ...................... .. 244/33

Kulik ....................... .. 114/261 Creed _ _ _ _ _ _

5,277,117 A *

1/ 1994 Bender et 31

6,591,775 B2

7/2003

7’147’240 B2

2007/0034739 A1 * * cited by examiner

Robinson . . . . .

12/2006 Nam? "" "

2/2007 Yoeh

300

\

second hangers. The second hanger may additionally house a tetherable observation aerial post.

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 2/1933

superstructure for housing sensor equipment. The super structure can be disposed above at least one of the ?rst and

114/259 _ _ _ __ 114/261

102/402

A statutory invention registration is not a patent. It has

the defensive attributes of a patent but does not have the enforceable attributes of a patent. No article or adver

tisement or the like may use the term patent, or any term

. . . .. 114/264

suggestive of a Patent, when referring to a statutory

" 280/4141

invention registration. For more speci?c information on

244/23 R

the rights associated With a statutory invention registra tion see 35 U.S.C. 157.

US. Patent

Jun. 7, 2011

135

Sheet 1 of3

US H2254 H

125 1,15

1 Fig.

US. Patent

Jun. 7, 2011

235

Sheet 2 of3

US H2254 H

225

265

1 I

2Fig.

\

200

210

US. Patent

Jun. 7, 2011

Sheet 3 of3

US H2254 H

US H2254 H 1

2 FIG. 1 is an isometric vieW of a ?oating platform in a ?rst

FLOATING PLATFORM FOR REMOTE BASING

embodiment; FIG. 2 is an isometric vieW of the ?oating platform in a

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

second embodiment; and FIG. 3 is block diagram vieW of an array of deployed

platforms.

Pursuant to 35 USC §119, the bene?t of priority from

provisional application 61/005,117 With a ?ling date of Nov. 26, 2007, is claimed for this non-provisional application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the folloWing detailed description of exemplary

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST

embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the

The invention described Was made in the performance of o?icial duties by one or more employees of the Department

accompanying draWings that form a part hereof, and in Which is shoWn by Way of illustration speci?c exemplary

of the Navy, and thus, the invention herein may be

embodiments in Which the invention may be practiced.

manufactured, used or licensed by or for the Government of the United States of America for government purposes With out the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other

These embodiments are described in suf?cient detail to

embodiments may be utiliZed, and logical, mechanical, and other changes may be made Without departing from the spirit

BACKGROUND

The invention relates generally to unmanned semi

20

autonomous remote basing at sea or littoral Waters. In

appended claims.

particular, this invention relates to a ?oating platform equipped With unmanned patrol vehicles as sentries. Conventional long-term surveillance over regions having only intermittent human tra?ic, such as some coastal

or scope of the present invention. The folloWing detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is de?ned only by the FIG. 1 shoWs in perspective a ?rst embodiment 100 of a

25

remote sea base platform. The platform includes a ?oating hull 110 shoWn from the stem with a loWer portion sub

approaches, involve expensive and potentially haZardous

merged beloW the Waterline 115. This submerged portion

human-occupied craft for detection and interdiction of unknown, possibly hostile vehicles. Shore-based remote

vided by bulkheads). This submerged disposition of the

includes a fuel storage compartment 120 (that may be subdi

sensing, such as by long-range radar systems provide limited observation capability. HoWever, often assets are too dis

30

access ledges 125 that can ?ank port and starboard. The hull 110 is shoWn as having a shalloW draft. On the starboard side, the hull 110 includes an operations

posed distant from the surveillance region to rendezvous With the observed vehicle before its departure. SUMMARY

Conventional long-term observation options at sea yield

roof 130 that covers a hanger 140 for stoWage of one or more 35

disadvantages addressed by various exemplary embodi ments of the present invention. In particular, dedication of expensive manned platforms With attendant risks for person nel and operational costs render such surveillance impracti cal. Various exemplary embodiments provide an unmanned ?oating platform for continual surveillance at a station

compartment 120 augments static stability of the hull 110. Above the Waterline 115, the hull 110 includes boarding

unmanned surface and submersible vehicles assigned for extended-range patrol. A ladder 135 provides access to the roof 130 from the starboard access 125. The vehicles can be

40

launched from and retrieved through vertically raised door that opens leading aft, the ?oor of the ?rst hanger 140 being submerged beloW the Waterline 115. On the port side, the hull 110 includes aerostat doors 150 that open above to the sky availing access to a second hanger

155 for poWer equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles,

keeping position at sea. The platform is equipped to dispatch

an unmanned vehicle to conduct at least one of observation 45 such as an instrumented lighter-than-air balloon. At the port

and rendeZvous. The platform includes a hull, ?rst and sec

ond hangers, and a liquid storage compartment. The hull has a submerged portion and a ?oating portion. The ?rst hanger is equipped for stoWing, deploying and retrieving a self

propelled unmanned vehicle and is substantially disposed in the ?oating portion. The second hanger houses equipment

50

for electrical poWer and on-board functions.

The liquid storage compartment supplies fuel to the on-board equipment and to the unmanned vehicle. For static

stability, the compartment is disposed in the submerged por tion. In various exemplary embodiments, the platform may

55

also include a superstructure for housing sensor equipment. The superstructure can be disposed above at least one of the

?rst and second hangers. The second hanger may addition ally shelter a tetherable observation aerial post.

unmanned surface and submersible vehicles assigned for extended-range patrol. A ladder 235 provides access to the 60

These and various other features and aspects of various

similar numbers are used throughout, and in Which:

roof 230 from the starboard ledge 225. The vehicles can be

launched through vertically raised door that opens leading aft, the ?oor of the hanger 240 being submerged beloW the

exemplary embodiments Will be readily understood With ref erence to the folloWing detailed description taken in con

merged beloW the Waterline 115. This loWer portion includes a fuel storage compartment 220 (that may be subdivided by bulkheads). Above the Waterline 115, the hull 210 includes boarding ledges 225 that can ?ank port and starboard. On the starboard side, the hull 210 includes an operations roof 230 that covers a hanger 240 for stoWage of one or more

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

junction With the accompanying draWings, in Which like or

forecastle (toWards the boW), the hull 110 includes an antenna housing 160 With mast and aerials 165 for active radar sWeeps. FIG. 2 shoWs in perspective a second embodiment 200 of the remote sea base platform. The platform includes a ?oat ing hull 210 shoWn from the stem with a loWer portion sub

65

Waterline 115. On the port side, the hull 210 includes aerostat doors 250 that open above to the sky availing access to a compartment 255 for poWer equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles. The compartment 255 can provide storage space for a variety of

US H2254 H

3

4

aerial vehicles, both powered and static-hovering. At the starboard forecastle (towards the bow), the hull 210 includes

the safety perimeter around ?eet assets, and at the entrance to ports, among other regions to be defended.

an antenna housing 260 with mast and aerials 265 for active radar sweeps.

vehicles in standby mode and allows for continuous staging.

This sea base platform stows and shelters the unmanned

Artisans of ordinary skill will recognize that these described exemplary embodiments are merely descriptive

For patrol or interdiction, the unmanned vehicles can be

refueled and deployed absent manned platforms in the vicin ity. Optionally, the platform can include tools for standard maintenance and minor repair. Additionally, the hangers can

and not limiting. Alternative arrangements can be designed

and produced shifting components, such as interchanging port and starboard disposition of the aerostat 150, 250 and

support unmanned systems with a wide variety of sensors and automated data fusion systems for watch at standoff

hanger 140, 240 portions of the hull 110, 210. Additionally, unmanned vehicles can be intermittently augmented by

distances from harbors or manned craft. These sensors facili

small manned vehicles for stowage and deployment, such as

tate persistent surveillance with minimal resources. Opti

patrol boats.

mally queued, the unmanned vehicles enable low-risk inter ception and low-cost countermeasure capabilities, within

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram view of an operational assembly 300 of the remote sea base platform 100. In an

minimal autonomous reaction intervals. The platform can be designed to include minimal facilities for human visitation for inspection, modi?cation or other related purposes. This remote ?oating station as described above provides a

exemplary operational assembly 310, the platform 100 teth ers an unmanned observation balloon 320 from the aerostat

150. The balloon 320 an aerial post from which to survey

large areas continuously. The platform 100 can also deploy an unmanned hovercraft 330 as a surface vehicle, shown in

20

recon?gurable, modular, autonomous and remotely operated multi-purpose barge or buoy that can preferably be

isometric view in the upper right corner. Several operational assemblies 310 can be deployed as an

anchored for station-keeping to avoid drift. Alternatively, the

array 340 along an extended demarcation line (e.g., parallel

?oating platform can be con?gured for either sea (blue water) or river (brown water) disposition to provide an oper

station can be free-?oating to facilitate redeployment. Such a

to a shoreline), such as for a thousand nautical miles, as 25

illustrated in this example. This line can include such assem

ating home base, logistics host, and refuge for wide ranging

blies 310 at disposal intervals, of which the ?rst, second,

sensors and primarily unmanned systems. The sea base platform may be towed out by a sea-worthy tugboat or other appropriate vessel and moored in position for deep sea missions. A littoral base platform may be towed by a smaller tugboat for deployment at the mouth of a river,

third, . . . and tenth stations are shown. An unauthoriZed

speedboat 350 observed by the aerostat 320 can be assigned to one or more hovercraft 330 for interception, as shown

deployed by the ?rst and third stations for further investigation, interrogation, and/or attack at minimal risk to uniformed personnel. Artisans of ordinary skill will recog niZe that other deployment arrangements and auxiliary craft associated with the sea base platform can be envisioned

without departing from the scope of the invention. To permit the remote deployment and staging of several sensor platforms for routine patrol, unmanned vehicles can

30

harbor, or port entrance for either defense or blockade. From the anchored position, one or more of the unmanned vehicles 35

nate (such as a combat vessel or shore facility). For proximate missions to shore, such as port defense or

be used to perform a wide variety of observation and recon

naissance missions related to military and homeland security missions. Such remote-piloted and/or autonomous vehicles can be designed for submerged operations (underwater), at the water surface (surface vehicles or hovercraft) and ?ying

40

river mouth surveillance, radio and/or wire-link communica tions can be included to enable human-intervention before

unmanned vehicle dispatch. For far-?eld missions at remote locations, satellite communications can be used for exchang

(airborne). Dispatch of unmanned vehicles conventionally requires

can be dispatched for target reconnaissance and/or intercep tion of unknown or potentially hostile craft. The dispatch orders may optionally be automatically conditioned, or alter natively arranged to transmit an alert to an authorized desig

45

ing routine maintenance and status update information. The onboard radar system provides self-defense surveillance

deployed proximity of armed forces ships (Navy or Coast

capability. To extend either communications distances or the

Guard) or shore-based host installations, both of which hav ing crews. Only limited options are conventionally available for deploying endurance-limited unmanned air vehicles and

area of coverage, the onboard aerostat can be launched to

no options exist for unmanned surface vehicles on extended

perform either function. Sensor payloads can be selected based on the mission of 50

the sea base platform and operational environment at the

duration missions without a manned host asset or base

deployment location. Sensors can include but are not limited

nearby. Line-of-sight (LOS) restrictions further require pres

to received signals or measurements from radar, biological,

ence of manned host assets to supervise and communicate

chemical, radiation, acoustic, optical, infrared and hydro

with the unmanned vehicles deployed to intercept an identi

acoustic systems. Speci?c sensor packages may include

?ed intruder for investigation and/or interrogation. Continuous reconnaissance and patrol of coastal regions

55

anti-submarine warfare suites such as dipping-sonar and acoustic arrays that can be operated autonomously by the sea base platform. Alternate sensor packages may include devices for automated mine clearing along a shipping lane.

60

be housed and operated on the platform to accumulate and fuse raw data streams into various levels of knowledge.

using unmanned vehicles within an operational radius with out some type of unmanned basing system necessitates

unacceptable costs in logistics. Exemplary embodiments provide an unmanned system of ?oating platforms for to

Automated data fusion gear, hardware and software can

satisfy this requirement. The platforms provide fuel storage and loading systems, shelter from environmental elements, communications, and protection for extended periods of time to unmanned vehicles pre-deployed in areas intended for persistent presence of these vehicles with some neces sary interdiction or countermeasure interval. These plat

forms enable the unmanned vehicles to affordably expand

These data can be transmitted to a host network for further

analysis. A sensor fusion example would be automated tar

get recognition of sea lane traf?c and queuing of high radia 65

tion levels emanating from a vessel within range.

Recon?guration, reprogramming, software uploads, data downloads at any level and remote operation of the sea base

US H2254 H 5

6

platforms can be conducted through the data links using

understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modi?cations and changes as fall Within the true

secure-communication methods.

spirit of the embodiments.

Electrical power can be provided to the unmanned sea

base platform by any combination of existing or future fuel and/or energy harvesting schemes. These can include solar, Wind, ocean-current, geothermal or other conversion meth ods that can charge batteries in house-keeping mode. Such systems can be supplemented or substituted by on-board generators depending on the poWer requirements for selected mission scenarios. For example, high levels of

What is claimed is: 1. A remote surveillance system, comprising: an unmanned ?oating platform for continual surveillance at a station-keeping position, said platform able to dis patch an unmanned vehicle to conduct at least one of

observation and rendeZvous, said platform including: a hull having a submerged portion and a ?oating portion; a ?rst hanger for stoWing, deploying and retrieving a self

poWer may be necessary for radar transmission and communications, or to operate rotary Wenches and similar

propelled unmanned vehicle, said hanger being sub stantially disposed in said ?oating portion;

devices on-board the platform. The unmanned sea base platform can be provisioned on location by sea. Periodic maintenance and refueling can be

a second hanger for housing electrical poWer and

on-board equipment; and

performed by creWs Who board the platform and execute duties such as operational veri?cation of mooring lights, electronic systems, control panels and moorings. In turn the unmanned sea base platform supports native onboard sys tems and sensors, capture, launch, and refuel and provide

a liquid storage compartment for supplying fuel to said on-board equipment and to said unmanned vehicle, said

compartment being disposed in said submerged por tion.

poWer and communications for the unmanned vehicles. The sea base platform also provides an unmanned remote

2. The surveillance system according to claim 1, Wherein said platform further includes:

logistics base for other emerging unmanned systems. This

a superstructure for housing sensor equipment, said super structure being disposed above at least one of said ?rst

may include providing a refueling base for unmanned sur face vehicles that are not indigenous to the platform, but share a common integrated refueling scheme. Alternatively, this may include service for a non-indigenous aerial vehicle

25

said superstructure includes a radar transmitter and receiver.

in extended operations from shore beyond its round-trip

4. The surveillance system according to claim 1, Wherein

endurance, such as provide safe haven for manned or

unmanned aircraft that experience technical problems or hostile attack and seek refuge. The platform can be recon?g ured to support any future system that requires remote pre

said hull further includes a boarding access ledge for person 30 nel on at least one side.

5. The surveillance system according to claim 1, Wherein said second hanger also houses a tetherable observation aerial post. 6. The surveillance system according to claim 1, Wherein

deployed supporting assets and logistic needs. While certain features of the embodiments of the inven tion have been illustrated as described herein, many

modi?cations, substitutions, changes and equivalents Will noW occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be

and second hangers. 3. The surveillance system according to claim 2, Wherein

35

said unmanned vehicle is a hovercraft.

l||||l

Eric C. Hansen, Norfolk, VA (US). An unmanned ?oating platform is provided for continual ... (60) ggégisional application N°~ 61/005,117, ?led 011 MW 26,.

553KB Sizes 5 Downloads 384 Views

Recommend Documents

ll
“Conference Calling Added to BestNet's Service Designed for Palm ... k Call dial pad. History. ' details. 7. Edit entry —\ 434 v. +. Dial. Find {/4136 status number.

\Q/ \/ ll
Mar. 29, 2004. GB. 24959 ll/lgll. (Under 37 CFR 147) ..... tWo superimposed holes 36, 37 into a central holloW 62 of the assembly to a second position outside of ...

ll|l|||||l|||llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Jul 5, 1995 - [57]. ABSTRACT. A synthetic color arrangement for a night vision inclusive .... and a power supply or energy source, 204, for the other FIG. 2 elements. .... tion provides an alternative and more informative output display for an ...

HR ll -
(Original Signature of Member) ... publicly available digital resources for required reading assignments, and for other ... (D) by adding at the end the following: 19.

HR ll
May 4, 2007 - To amend titles 28 and 10, United States Code, to allow for certiorari review of ... IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mrs. DAVIS of ...

5 ll, Lia % llw
Oct 31, 2001 - to hand-excavation methods, i.e., shovels, Without sacri?c ing precision .... to the vacuum engine Which drives the collection system, rather than ...

ll 1 4
qualities of services, such as wireless packet data communi cation and the Internet, are hardly able to support higher quality of services due to the two required ...

"—"LL 2) 'P
Jul 17, 1987 - A I 'No _. 66'; means for detecting an abrupt change of the focus sig. Fitligdi " ...... This A/D converter converts the analog output voltage. F of the ...

l|ll|llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllI||||lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
May 18, 1995 - ... BINAP-Ruthenium(II)Com plexes and their Use in Asymmetric Hydrogenation [BI .... Cl(PhH)(t-BINAP)]C1 catalyst to a solution of the B- or.

4 -ll- 4
Binary Codes, Binary Coded Decimal Code and its Properties, Unit Distance · Codes, Alpha Numeric Codes, Enor Detecting and Conecting Codes. Boolean Algebra: Basic Theorems and Properties, Switching Functions, · Canonicaland Slandard Form, Algebraic S

Correlatividades LL - DD 162_12.pdf
Page 1 of 4. Página 1 de 4. ANEXO III – DD 162/12. Carrera LICENCIATURA EN LOGÍSTICA Plan 1999. Facultad de Ciencias de la Administración. Listado de ...

Mastermorphix LL - Raul Low.pdf
Page 1 of 1. EO. F U R U' R' F' F R U R' U' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'. OK r U R' U R U2 r' r U2 R' U' R U' r' F R U R' U' F' U2 F U R U' R' F'. OK.

Mastermorphix LL - Raul Low.pdf
Sign in. Page. 1. /. 1. Loading… Page 1 of 1. EO. F U R U' R' F' F R U R' U' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'. OK r U R' U R U2 r' r U2 R' U' R U' r' F R U R' ...

LL Benfits blurb .pdf
Creating a video that highlights your project, the process used to. create it and the people involved and. ○ Creating blog and social media content that revolves around your. project shared campus-wide through the Office of Sustainability's. media

Discriminacion ñ-ll 02.pdf
arañas. A Eva le dan asco las arallas. poño. El pollo asado estaba riquísimo. cameños. Los camellos son mamíferos. Page 3 of 4. Discriminacion ñ-ll 02.pdf.

Say-You-ll-Stay.pdf
online electronic digital local library which offers use of multitude of PDF archive selection. You may ... YOU HERD ME!: ... Download Colin Cowherd ebook file.