Publications

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Publications

This page is meant to be a storehouse for publications that reflect activities of interest to AUVAC and its members. If you have publications that should be added to this list please let us know and we will include them.

An Analysis of Undersea Glider Architectures and an Assessment of Undersea Glider Integration into Undersea Applications

September 30, 2012 via – Naval Postgraduate School

Currently, buoyancy driven underwater gliders are deployed globally to gather oceanographic data from across the world’s oceans. This thesis examines the utility of underwater gliders within the context of providing additional U.S. Navy capabilities. An extensive survey of available underwater gliders was undertaken and the resultant survey pool of ten gliders down selected to five gliders of fixed wing configuration. A comprehensive architectural analysis was then conducted of seven key architectural attributes of the five selected gliders. The architectural analysis compared various implementations of the key architectural attributes relative to desirable traits and capabilities for a notional U.S. Navy glider. Following the architectural analysis a proposed architecture for a U.S. Navy underwater glider was developed which includes a compendium of ‘best’ features gleaned from the architectural analysis. Drivers and rationale for selection of specific key architectural attributes and features are also provided. Additionally, a comparison of constraints and capabilities of underwater gliders is provided. Finally, a comparison of the current and proposed capabilities of underwater gliders versus other Autonomous Undersea Vehicles, specifically Unmanned Undersea Vehicles, is proffered.

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DARPA’S Autonomous Minehunting and Mapping Technologies (AMMT) Program An Overview

September 23, 2012 via – IEEE/MTS Oceans 1996

Abstract – The C. S. Draper Laboratory, Inc. (Draper) recently completed the at-sea test phase of the Autonomous Minehunting and Mapping Technologies (AMMT) Program for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The primary objective of this program is to develop and demonstrate advanced minehunting technologies that will enable Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs) to clandestinely survey an undersea area for mines and collect data for post mission mapping of the surveyed area. The survey data must be of  sufficient quality to support selection of an amphibious operating area and subsequent neutralization of mine or obstacle threats.

As integration contractor for the AMMT Program, Draper modified one of DARPA’s existing UUVs; which was previously designed and built by Draper, and used for DARPA’s Mine Search System Program. State-of-the-art technologies in the areas of Sonar Mapping, Navigation, Acoustic Communications, Imaging, and Mission Planning were incorporated into the AMMT vehicle, resulting in a system having the capability to perform an autonomous survey and meet program objectives. The vehicle was subsequently tested at-sea to demonstrate the advanced minehunting technologies and concepts.

This paper provides an overview of the AMMT Program and describes the development and integration of the technologies required

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USV Payloads for Single Sortie Detect to Engage (SS-DTE) Mine Counter Measures ONR BAA 12-018

July 27, 2012 via – Office Of Naval Research

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is seeking white papers and full proposals describing innovative technology solutions that will enable the Navy to develop an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)-based system capable of conducting the three phases of mine hunting operations – mine detection/classification, identification, and neutralization – in a single sortie, to potentially be incorporated as part of a future Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) MCM mission package. There are two distinct but strongly connected new technology products described in this BAA that work together to enable effective planning and conduct of USV-based mine countermeasures (MCM) operations in shallow water environments. These two technology products are:

Product Area 1 – The SS-DTE MCM Payload, will contain the components needed for deployment and retrieval of UUVs, as well as the launch of mine neutralizers aboard a USV, a UUV sustainment system, an interface with the LCS communication system, associated autonomy/automation required to accomplish the SS-DTE task, and the software architecture and software planning tools necessary for payload management and coordinated behaviors.

Product Area 2 – The capability for neutralization of near-surface floating and drifting mines. The primary investment will be to develop the technologies to support a UUV-based capability to prosecute near-surface floating and drifting mines; however, the neutralization system must also be capable of prosecuting bottom and volume mines. As appropriate, this development will utilize a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) for all components of this effort. Ongoing assessment during development cycles will determine level(s) of system openness that best facilitate transition. This will allow upgrades and integration of software components with minimal effort as the roles and capabilities of the USV and its assets improve.

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