Sea Surveillance and Control Apparatus

The present invention relates to maritime control. More particularly, the present invention relates to the control of specific areas of the sea. In even greater particularity, the present invention relates to surveillance and weapons systems which can be used to establish control over an area of the sea. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to unmanned sea surveillance and combat stations which are characterized by the capability to adjust the buoyancy of each station and command the surveillance and combat functions from a remote control point.

Unmanned floating buoys are presently known in the art of sea reconnaissance. These buoys are equipped with suitable sensors such as sonars and are used for detecting the presence and movement of ships and submarines. The analysis of the signals received from the buoys allows determination of the type, speed and direction of the ship that has been detected. The use of data from several floating buoys increases the accuracy of the analysis.

Other known unmanned combat systems for deployment in the sea are sea mines, which are either anchored or allowed to float freely. These mines may be activated automatically through timers, or remotely, by way of radio link or ultra-sound. The mines may also be detonated either automatically or remotely. Automatic detonation is effected by suitable sensors such as contact-devices, magnetic detectors or acoustical detectors. An inherent disadvantage of ordinary sea mines is that they cannot positively identify a target before detonation. They accordingly represent a danger to friendly as well as enemy vessels.

With the foregoing in mind, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a remotely controllable system of unmanned sea stations which are capable of correctly identifying and subsequently combating targets.

Another object of the invention is to increase the survivability of deployed detection and combat devices by providing a sea surveillance and combat system which is more difficult to detect and disable than traditional sea buoys.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system that can be deactivated from a remote location, thereby decreasing the risk of inadvertently targeting a friendly vessel.

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished through the use of a number of modular floating stations which can be positioned at varying sea depths, and which are controlled from a central remote control point. The modular floating stations may be equipped with a variety of detection and combat devices, depending on the specific purpose of the particular deployment. The detection devices may be infrared sensors, radar sensors, sonar sensors, acoustic sensors, and visionics. The combat devices may be weapons of any variety, including rockets and cruise missiles. The modular stations are further equipped to communicate with a control station at a remote location, either through radio transmissions or through a conductive cable. The control point may be either stationary, semi-stationary, or mobile. Equipping a submarine to serve as the remote control point enhances the flexibility of the system. If the control point is stationary, the satellite stations must be either stationary or semi-stationary. If the control point is semi-stationary or mobile, the satellite stations may also be semi-stationary or mobile.

Although a single station in communication with a remote control point could be used, the present invention is most effective if a plurality of stations are used to increase the reliability of the analysis of the signals received at the remote control point from each of the stations. The preferred system includes an operator at a remote central control point in communication with a plurality of satellite stations.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention for an apparatus for establishing and maintaining control over an area of the sea from a remote location will be more readily understood by one skilled in the art by referring to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment and to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this disclosure, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention, showing the spherical flotation chamber and depicting the components of a satellite station.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the remote control point.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the mast and platform of the satellite station, depicting the components which may be mounted upon the platform.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the mast, showing the air duct and cable within the mast.

FIG. 5 is a side-elevational view of a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the cylindrical flotation chamber.

FIG. 6 is a side-elevational view of a third embodiment of the present invention, showing the use of airbags attached to the mast for flotation.

FIG. 7 is a side-elevational view of the present invention, showing the use of a submarine as the remote control point.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention utilizes a plurality of satellite stations 11, each of which may be anchored by a cable 12 to provide a stationary or nearly stationary platform. The buoyancy of each station 11 is adjustable, so that each may independently be positioned at various sea-depths as required by the circumstances. In the preferred embodiment, each station 11 includes a flotation chamber 13 which is watertight, and is used to house equipment 14 necessary for communicating with a remote control point This would include a receiver 17 and transmitter 18 for electronic signals, as well as the necessary programmable hardware 19 for translating the electronic signals into executable commands and for executing those commands to control various other components of the invention. Attached below the flotation chamber 13 is a stabilizing chamber which includes at least one pump 22 for intake and discharge of water into and out of the stabilizing chamber. As shown, the preferred embodiment contains two pumps 22a and 22b. When the stabilizing chamber 21 is filled with water, the station descends, due to gravitational forces. When water is expelled from the stabilizing chamber, the station ascends. To provide additional lift, auxiliary flotation chambers 23 may be attached to the primary flotation chamber 13 in such a position as to provide upward force. These auxiliary flotation chambers are connected by pressure equalizing lines 24 providing fluid communication between the auxiliary flotation chambers. A number of eyelets 26 are attached to the exterior of the primary flotation chamber 13, so that auxiliary devices such as crane hooks, collapsible auxiliary flotation chambers, compressed air bottles or a connecting cable may be attached to the station 11. Additional load-carrying flotation chambers 20 that can accommodate weapons, operating supplies or maintenance supplies may also be attached to station 11 using the eyelets

A mast 27 is attached to the primary flotation chamber 13. The mast may either be extendable and retractable or may be of a fixed length. In the preferred embodiment, a telescoping mast is shown. As shown, the mast defines a central duct 28, which may be used to aspirate air from above the surface. Air aspirated through the duct may be compressed into compressed air bottles, or used to provide an emergency air supply to the remote control point, provided that the station is connected to the control point by means of a connecting cable which also incorporates an air duct. A communications or power cable 29 may also be positioned within the duct 28.

Attached to the end of the mast opposite the flotation chamber is a platform 31, upon which sensors 32 and combat weapons 33 may be mounted. The platform is preferably self-stabilizing in both vertical and horizontal planes. A gyroscope system 34 could be used for this purpose. The platform 31 is configured for optional attachment of either sensors or weapons, or both. If the purpose of the deployment is only for surveillance and reconnaissance, for example, sensors only would be mounted on the platform. The use of the telescoping or extendable mast enhances the rapid deployment of the sensors and weapons, since the system then need not rely on buoyancy changes alone for positioning the platform. The use of a mast, either fixed-length or extendable, has the additional advantage of reducing the possibility of detection by enemy reconnaissance, as the above-water portion of the station which holds the surveillance or combat weapons system presents a very small target. The target size may be even further reduced if the combat weapon systems and the surveillance equipment are themselves mounted on a second mast 36 affixed to the platform.

As seen in FIG. 2, the remote deployment of the stations is directed from the remote control point 16 based upon data collected by the sensors. The data is received via receiver/transmitter devices 17 and 18 from the stations and is integrated and graphically depicted on computer screens 37 at the remote control point by a programmable logic system 38, providing real-time input for command combat decisions. The weapons systems on the platform are activated or launched by command from the central control point. To increase flexibility, override and abort functions are incorporated into the control systems logic, allowing for immediate deactivation of the weapons systems from the remote control point, if necessary.

Alternatively, stations can be equipped for autonomous deployment with pre-programmed target identification and appropriate weapons release systems, incorporated in programmable hardware 19.

Information is communicated between the stations and the control point by either radio link or conductive cable 39. In the event a connecting conductive cable is used, it may be used to transmit electrical energy between the control point and the satellite stations, as well as for data transmission.

Energy is supplied to the station by means of rechargeable batteries 41 mounted on the platform 31 or within the primary flotation chamber 13. The batteries 41 may alternatively be recharged through a conductive conduit 39 from the control point to the satellite station, or through the use of generating equipment 40, mounted on the platform or within the primary flotation chamber, and either a fuel cell containing an expendable fuel or a solar cell 42, attached to platform 31.

A second embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 5

has a primary flotation chamber that is cylindrical in shape, rather than spherical. The advantage offered by this embodiment is that it may be easily stored or transported, either above or below water. The station may be transported in the horizontal position. Once the deployment area is reached, the stabilization chamber 21 may be flooded to position the station vertically. Large collapsible auxiliary flotation chambers 43 attached to the primary flotation chamber provide increased load-carrying capacity to accommodate, for example, underwater sensors or torpedoes. Each auxiliary flotation chamber is equipped with inlet and outlet valves which may be controlled from the remote control point.

A third embodiment of the invention provides a lightweight, low-cost option, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the primary flotation chamber consists of one or more airbags 44 attached to the mast 27. The buoyancy of the station is adjusted through use of inlet valves 46 and outlet valves 47 in the airbag(s) 44.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.