Unmanned underwater vehicle for tracking and homing in on submarines

Abstract

The present invention relates to an unmanned underwater vehicle for tracking and homing in on submarines. The unmanned underwater vehicle comprises a propulsion unit and at least one attachment device for attaching the vehicle to the hull of a submarine. The at least one attachment device may comprise at least one movable corkscrew and/or at least one movable permanent magnet. The at least one corkscrew may be used when the submarine hull is coated with an elastomeric material. The at least one permanent magnet may be used when the submarine hull is ferrous and uncoated or thinly coated. A method for intercepting and covertly reporting the activities of a submarine using the unmanned underwater vehicle is also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An unmanned underwater vehicle comprising: 
 a hull;    a propulsion unit joined to said hull for maneuvering said vehicle; and    an attachment means joined to said hull to attach said vehicle to a submarine.    
     
     
         2 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises: 
 a corkscrew member rotatably joined to said hull and extendable therefrom; and  
 a motor joined to drive said corkscrew member.  
 
     
     
         3 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein said attachment means comprises at least one permanent magnet located at a surface of said hull.  
     
     
         4 . A vehicle according to  claim 3  wherein said attachment device further comprises a motor joined to extend said at least one permanent magnet.  
     
     
         5 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a resilient material coating said hull.  
     
     
         6 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising forward and rear control surfaces joined to said hull.  
     
     
         7 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein said hull is shaped to create a venturi effect.  
     
     
         8 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising thrusters joined to said hull to act as suction devices.  
     
     
         9 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  wherein said propulsion unit includes at least one propeller, a motor-generator driving said at least one propeller, and a battery joined to power and be recharged from said motor-generator.  
     
     
         10 . A vehicle according to  claim 9  wherein said at least one propeller is turned by water when said vehicle is attached to said submarine and said motor-generator recharges said battery.  
     
     
         11 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising means for revealing a location of the vehicle.  
     
     
         12 . A vehicle according to  claim 11  wherein said location revealing means comprises a dye marker.  
     
     
         13 . A vehicle according to  claim 11  wherein said location revealing means comprises a floating radio frequency beacon.  
     
     
         14 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one transducer positioned in said hull for monitoring the acoustic environment.  
     
     
         15 . A vehicle according to  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a controller joined to said transducer; and  
 a signal processor positioned in said hull and joined to said transducer wherein said at least one transducer is configured to act as an echo-repeater to create an acoustic homing signal for a torpedo.  
 
     
     
         16 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising a projector positioned in said hull for transmitting an acoustic signal.  
     
     
         17 . A vehicle according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a depth gauge positioned in said hull;  
 a speed sensor positioned in said hull; and  
 a data storage means joined to said depth gauge and said speed sensor.  
 
     
     
         18 . A vehicle according to  claim 17  further comprising means for uploading stored data joined to said data storage means.  
     
     
         19 . A method for intercepting a submarine and covertly reporting the activities of the submarine comprising: 
 launching an unmanned underwater vehicle from a platform in the vicinity of said submarine;    targeting a particular area of the submarine suited for stealthy and long-term attachment;    navigating said unmanned underwater vehicle to said targeted area; and    attaching said unmanned underwater vehicle to said submarine.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19  further comprising orienting the unmanned underwater vehicle with respect to a hull of the submarine in a manner to promote attachment.