Autonomous Supercavitation Underwater Drone

Abstract

The present invention is a supercavitation underwater drone equipped with high-speed sensors configured for data acquisition and surveillance. A propulsion system generates gasses that are then used to generate a vapor bubble at the nose of the vehicle. An array of nozzles aids in directional control of the vehicle by altering the pressure profile of the vapor bubble. In some embodiments the vehicle operates autonomously. In other embodiments the vehicle operates semi-autonomously following a preplanned route and communicating with a base. In other embodiments the vehicle is controlled remotely by an operator.

Claims

1. A supercavitation vehicle comprising: an open-thermal propulsion system fueled by a monopropellant; and a nose cone having a central nozzle configured to generate a vapor bubble around the vehicle; and a control valve configured to divert a portion of propellant to the central nozzle to form the vapor bubble; and an array of sensors configured to gather environmental data; and a computer storing an application configured to receive and process said environmental data; wherein data is rapidly gathered from an aquatic environment.

2. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 1 further comprising: a gas storage tank in fluid communication with the open-thermal propulsion system for storing high-pressure gas; and the gas storage tank further in fluid communication with the central nozzle; wherein high-pressure gas is diverted from the open-propulsion system fueled by a monopropellant to the gas storage tank for controlled distribution to the central nozzle for controlling the vapor bubble.

3. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 2 further comprising: an array of control nozzles radially disposed about the nose cone and configured to inject high-pressure gas from the gas storage tank to control pitch, yaw and roll of the vehicle.

4. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 1 wherein: the vapor bubble is configured to create a noise signature that overwhelms traditional sonar equipment; wherein nearby aquatic vehicles are cloaked to the traditional sonar equipment.

5. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: camera, infrared receiver, sonic receiver, temperature sensor, turbidity sensor, pH sensor, dissolved oxygen sensor, nutrient sensor, metal contamination sensor, submersible gamma spectrometer.

6. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 1 wherein: the array of sensors includes at least one sonic receiver; wherein a pressure wave generated by said vapor bubble is reflected off the aquatic environment and received by the sonic receiver, and wherein acoustic mapping of the aquatic environment is produced.

7. A supercavitation vehicle comprising: an electric-propulsion system having an electric power source driving an electric motor; and said motor rotationally engaged with a propeller configured do power the vehicle; and said motor rotationally engaged with a compressor; and a nose cone having a central nozzle configured to generate a vapor bubble around the vehicle; and said compressor in fluid communication with a high-pressure gas storage tank that is in turn in fluid communication with the central nozzle; and a control valve configured to control flow of said high-pressure gas to the central nozzle to form the vapor bubble; and an array of sensors configured to gather environmental data; and a computer storing an application configured to receive and process said environmental data; wherein data is rapidly gathered from an aquatic environment.

8. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 7 wherein: the vapor bubble is configured to create a noise signature that overwhelms traditional sonar equipment; wherein nearby aquatic vehicles are cloaked to the traditional sonar equipment.

9. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 7 further comprising: an array of control nozzles radially disposed about the nose cone and configured to inject high-pressure gas from the gas storage tank to control pitch, yaw and roll of the vehicle.

10. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 7 wherein: the array of sensors includes at least one camera.

11. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 7 wherein: the array of sensors includes at least one sonar receiver; wherein a pressure wave generated by said vapor bubble is reflected off the aquatic environment and wherein the aquatic environment is acoustically mapped.

12. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 7 wherein: the central processor includes communication circuitry configured to communicate with at least one other supercavitation vehicle; wherein an array of supercavitation vehicles gather data over an aquatic environment simultaneously for receiving said data in the central processor for processing and mapping.

13. The supercavitation vehicle of claim 7 further comprising at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of: camera, infrared receiver, sonic receiver, temperature sensor, turbidity sensor, pH sensor, dissolved oxygen sensor, nutrient sensor, metal contamination sensor, submersible gamma spectrometer.

14. A method for operating the supercavitation vehicle of claim 1 the method comprising: conducting preliminary data collection; and recognizing a critical data; and conducting trend data collection in response to critical data collected; and deploying a network of vehicles; wherein recognizing critical data engages trend data collection and recognizing critical trend data collection engages deploying of a network of vehicles.

15. A method for operating the supercavitation vehicle of claim 1 the method comprising: conducting preliminary data collection; and recognizing a critical data; and conducting emergency response data collection in response to critical data collected; and deploying a network of vehicles; wherein recognizing critical data engages conducting emergency response data collection and conducting emergency response data collection engages deploying of a network of vehicles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment 100 depicting a vapor bubble.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a separate embodiment 200.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a method of operating an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an example embodiment 100 surrounded by a vapor bubble 120. FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the embodiment 100. The main body 110 supports a gas nozzle 112 configured for generating a vapor bubble 120 that is configured to extend past the aft end of the vehicle and to prevent contact between the vehicle's skin and the surrounding water. An array of gas jets 118 are activated individually to control the pitch and yaw of the vehicle. Fins 114 extend beyond the vapor bubble 120 to more precisely control the pitch and yaw of the vehicle. A propulsion system powers the vehicle and is made up of a monopropellant storage tank 128 that is in fluid communication with a decomposition chamber 130 where the monopropellant is fed into the chamber where it is initiated by a spark or catalyst to undergo rapid decomposition to produce thrust through the nozzle 116. A portion of the gas from the decomposition chamber is transferred to high-pressure gas storage tanks 122 that are fed through the forward nozzle 112 to create the vapor bubble 120.

[0029] A control system is housed in a main housing 124. The control system regulates the feed rate of the monopropellant and catalyst/spark while controlling the distribution of high-pressure gas to control thrust as well as the vapor bubble and thrust through gas jets 118.

[0030] The main housing also houses computer equipment to gather data from an array of sensors 126. Some sensors may include motion sensors, cameras, infrared sensors, microphones and sonar receivers, for surveillance, mapping, and data acquisition. Other sensors for measuring temperature, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nutrient content and contamination due to metals, radioactivity or the like may also be included.

[0031] Another embodiment 200 is illustrated in FIG. 3. A main body 210 supports a gas nozzle 212 configured to generate a vapor bubble 220 that is designed to extend past the aft end of the vehicle and to prevent contact between the vehicle's skin and the surrounding water. An array of gas jets 218 are activated individually to control the pitch and yaw of the vehicle. Fins 214 extend beyond the vapor bubble 220 to more precisely control the pitch and yaw of the vehicle. A propulsion system powers the vehicle and is made up of an electric motor 232 that drives a propeller 234 and further drives a compressor 236. Compressed air from the compressor is stored in high-pressure gas storage tanks 222 that feed high-pressure gas through the forward nozzle 212 to create the vapor bubble 220.

[0032] A control system and an energy storage are housed in a main housing 224. The control system regulates the feed rate of the high-pressure gas to control the vapor bubble and thrust through gas jets 218. The control system further manages the fuel levels, distance traveled and distance to return to a launch point or retrieval point, or to simply float and engage a beacon for retrieval or to begin transmitting gathered data.

[0033] To generate data for processing and mapping, microphones or sonar equipment in an example embodiment receive pressure waves reflecting off solid objects as they are generated by the vehicle as it travels underwater. A network of vehicles may be used to capture extensive datasets for comprehensive mapping and data collection over large areas.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a method of operating the vehicle. The method begins by conducting preliminary data 110. When preliminary data results in recognizing critical data 116, the application evaluates the critical data and when the critical data signifies a significant change, the application begins conducting trend data collection 112. When trend data collection results in recognizing additional critical data 116, the method continues by deploying a network of vehicles 118. When recognizing critical data 116 signifies a disaster, the method continues by conducting emergency response data collection 114. When the disaster is significant the application responds by deploying a network of vehicles 118. In some embodiments the method commences by Conducting emergency response data collection 114 is immediately followed by deploying a network of vehicles.