Common Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) Stern Launch and Recovery System

The rapid growth of UUVs in the U.S. Navy drives the need to easily deploy and recover these assets. The ability to launch and recover a variety of sized UUVs effectively from a variety of naval vessels with different missions presents a tactical advantage that currently does not exist. To support continued advances in the use of underwater robotic systems for the Navy, a Common Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Stern Launch and Recovery System (LARS) is proposed. The conceptual design leverages and builds upon existing soft robotics technology, a subfield of robotics dedicated to conformal materials, by applying highly compliant materials for the in-water capture mechanism. The compliant capture mechanism floats off the stern of the vessel and is attached to an inflatable lower ramp, which in turn is hinged to an aluminum telescopic upper ramp. The system is fully retractable, housed in a portable containerized platform. The system is designed to decouple the ships motions from the LARS to reduce the transmission of torsional and vertical motions of the vessel to the UUV during capture. Analysis and simulation, using Navateks already developed and validated hydro-mechanical modeling tools, will be conducted to provide and initial assessment of concept performance.