AIR-BASED-DEPLOYMENT-COMPATIBLE UNDERWATER VEHICLE CONFIGURED TO PERFORM VERTICAL PROFILING AND, DURING INFORMATION TRANSMISSION, PERFORM MOTION STABILIZATION AT A WATER SURFACE, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

摘要

An air-based-deployment-compatible underwater vehicle that may be configured to perform vertical profiling is described. The vehicle may be configured, during information transmission, to perform motion stabilization at a water surface. A body of the vehicle may have a cylindrical shape. Buoyancy control components of the vehicle may be disposed within the body. The buoyancy control components may be configured to adjust a volume and/or buoyancy of the vehicle to facilitate vertical profiling. Fins may be hingedly disposed on the body at one or more locations on the vehicle. The fins may be movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The fins, in the first configuration, may be positioned substantially flat against the body. The fins, in the second configuration, may extend radially outward to slow descent and to provide motion stabilization. The fins may be pitched to rotate the vehicle about a longitudinal axis during vertical profiling.

主权项

1. An air-based-deployment-compatible underwater vehicle configured to perform vertical profiling after deployment in water, the vehicle comprising:
a body comprising a cylindrical shape; buoyancy control components disposed within the body, wherein the buoyancy control components are configured to adjust a buoyancy of the vehicle to facilitate vertical motion of the vehicle in water; and fins disposed on the body, wherein the fins are hingedly attached to the body, wherein the fins are configured to be positioned in a particular configuration selected from a set of configurations, wherein the set of configurations includes a first configuration and a second configuration,
wherein the fins are further configured such that, in the first configuration, the fins are positioned substantially flat against the body, wherein the vehicle is configured to use the first configuration for the fins during deployment of the vehicle and prior to impact of the vehicle with the water,wherein the fins are further configured such that, in the second configuration, the fins extend radially outward from the body to slow descent and to provide motion stabilization, wherein the vehicle is configured to use the second configuration for the fins subsequent to deployment of the vehicle and impact of the vehicle with the water.