Laser-Based Method for Docking an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle to a Submarine

Abstract

An Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (UUV) docking system is provided in which the UUV is responsive to a first rotating light beam (which emits from a submarine) to begin a docking procedure. The UUV utilizes a photodetector to detect the first light beam and to guide the UUV toward the submarine by utilizing the first light beam. In one embodiment, the UUV reflects light from the first light beam back to the submarine. A photodetector on the submarine detects the reflected light to ascertain that the UUV is locked onto the first light beam. The submarine then stops rotating the light beam so that a trajectory of the UUV heads in the direction of a docking station which is positioned on the submarine.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 08, 2010
Accession Number
ADD020438

Entities

People

  • Lynn T. Antonelli

Organizations

  • United States Department of the Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Control Systems
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Guidance
  • Light Sources
  • Materials
  • Optical Detectors
  • Particles
  • Photodetectors
  • Radar
  • Trajectories
  • Transmitters
  • Underwater Vehicles
  • United States
  • Unmanned
  • Unmanned Underwater Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Electrical Engineering
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Directed Energy