Patent ID: 6779475
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A launch and recovery system for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), comprising:a watercraft capable of navigating on a water surface, said watercraft having a stern endwall movable between a first position and a second position, said stern endwall being substantially vertical in said first position and being angled downward and away from said watercraft to define a ramp that extends toward the water surface in said second position; a storage platform mounted on said watercraft for defining a storage area for at least one UUV, said storage platform having a forward end and an aft end wherein said aft end terminates at said stern endwall; an arm pivotally mounted to said watercraft at a position forward of said storage platform, said arm having an outboard end that can be extended to positions aft of said watercraft and on either side thereof based on a pivot position of said arm, said arm being retractable such that said outboard end is positionable over said storage platform; capture means, mounted to said outboard end of said arm, for capturing a UUV that maneuvers thereto; and homing means coupled to said arm for transmitting a homing signal through the water for use by the UUV in maneuvering to said capture means.