XLUUV Launch and Recovery System

Okeanus’s proposal for a modular Launch and Recovery system (LARS) for On-board handling and Servicing of the Navy XLUUV is based on a simple concept involving minimal deck equipment. It takes inspiration from technology and equipment readily used in the offshore industry and available on the market today. It is also based Okeanus’s extensive experience in designing and manufacturing LARS systems, using the knowledge that operations in higher sea states are typically more successful when the vehicle (in this XLUUV) is fully constrained and supported. Okeanus has experience designing of LARS systems safe, reliable systems that successfully operate in sea state 5. The concept comprises a single, capture cradle to support the XLUUV and a configurable winch and tugger winch design to handle the load. Adjustable, self-inflating and deflating floatation devices attached to the cradle will aid the launch and recovery by increasing the draft of the XLUUV without the need for additional attachment. The proposed floatation devices will also allow the XLUUV easily accessible during servicing. A modular design will mean that the cradle can be resized for various UUVs. A configurable winch design using multiple winches enables the system upsized or down sized. It also enables the proposed system to take advantage of existing deck equipment where appropriate. During Phase 1 Okeanus aims to confirm the technical feasibility of the system by confirming key components using data on the LPD17 vessel and XLUUV. This will include analyzing the floatation requirements, cradle requirements and structural loading, options for moving the cradle around the well deck and into storage, winch specifications and the control system requirements. The outcome would be a technically feasible, preliminary design. Okeanus plans to undertake this work as part of a four-stage process with 3 optional stages that can be exercised if desired by the customer. These stages will result in the provision of 3D CAD models of critical components, air supply system schematics to determine how the cradle with inflate/deflate and block diagrams of electrical and controls systems. Okeanus is confident that the concept it is putting forward would be adaptable and scalable to support various UUV deployments in line with the Navy’s targets by 2045. For phase 2 Okeanus will look to find support from multiple larger partners to support the delivery of a prototype as well as developing a commercialization and communication strategy to appropriately scale up for production. In the meantime, it deems this SBIR as significant step in supporting Okeanus, a small US-based business, with developing its concept and it plans to capitalize on the investment that this opportunity provides.