Abstract:
An unmanned system is provided for the handling and delivery of a plurality of operational payloads. Each of a plurality of standardized shipping containers houses an operational payload, a controller that controls functions of the operational payload, and communication means that communicates with the controller. A structure is provided for supporting the shipping containers in a fixed relationship to one another so that the shipping containers can be handled and transported collectively by moving the structure. The structure is equipped with means to facilitate data transfer with each shipping container&#39;s controller.

Description:
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by a employees of the Department of the Navy and may be manufactured, used, licensed by or for the Government for any governmental purpose without payment of any royalties thereon. 

   CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
   This patent application is co-pending with one related patent application entitled “STANDARDIZED CONTAINER PAYLOAD DELIVERY AND CONTROL SYSTEM” (Navy Case No. 83610) by the same inventors as this patent application. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates generally to payload delivery systems, and more particularly to an unmanned system that can be used to house, deliver and/or protect multiple standardized containers and their controllable and unmanned payloads. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Currently, operational payloads such as sensors, ordnance, unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs, unmanned undersea vehicles or UUVs, unmanned surface vehicles or USVs, and unmanned ground vehicles or UGVs, as well as sophisticated weapons such as smart bombs and small tactical missiles, are delivered and dispensed largely by highly specialized and expensive delivery platforms. For the military, this includes state-of-the-art bombers, fighter aircraft, warships, specialized transport ships, submarines and specialized ground vehicles. Most, if not all of these operational payloads, were developed and fielded to counter high-capability foes that also possess high-technology weaponry. However, delivery and dispensing of the payloads by largely manual methods (i.e., humans manipulate and operate the delivery platforms and payloads) and expensive apparatus (i.e., the specialized delivery platforms) is not cost-effective and efficient for all military applications. In cases where these methods and apparatus are applied against relatively low-technology and low-capability foes, any long drawn-out conflicts will ultimately impose significant financial and resource burdens on the military. Additionally, the wear and tear on the delivery platforms from repeated and extensive sorties reduces the useful life of the delivery platforms and increases their attrition. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for the delivery and control of multiple operational payloads. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an unmanned system that can be used to deliver and control a variety of operational payloads. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a standardized system that can house and control each of a plurality of operational payloads while providing for their transport to a destination by a wide variety of existing delivery platforms. 
   Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings. 
   In accordance with the present invention, an unmanned system for the handling and delivery of a plurality of operational payloads. Each of a plurality of standardized shipping containers houses an operational payload. Each shipping container houses i) a controller that couples to and controls functions of the operational payload associated therewith, and ii) communication means that couples to and communicates with the controller. A structure is provided for supporting the shipping containers in a fixed relationship to one another so that the shipping containers can be handled and transported collectively by moving the structure. The structure further supports means coupled to each shipping container&#39;s communication means that will facilitate data transfer with each shipping container&#39;s controller. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an unmanned system used for the delivery and control of an operational payload in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an ISO shipping container; 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the unmanned system of the present invention further equipped with a variety of positioning and protection features; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the unmanned system of the present invention further equipped to manipulate and dispense the operational payload; 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an unmanned system that provides for the delivery and controlled dispensing of ordnance; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an unmanned system that provides for the delivery and controlled dispensing of unmanned vehicles; and 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an unmanned system that facilitates the handling, delivery and protection of a plurality of shipping containers equipped in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , a schematic view of an unmanned system for the delivery and control of an operational payload  100  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. This system includes a shipping container  10  with a controller module  12  and a communications module  14  mounted within shipping container  10 . Operational payload  100  is representative of any type of system that performs an operation within and/or outside of shipping container  10  if it is to be dispensed therefrom. Such operational payloads include, but are not limited to, military and non-military payloads, sensor systems (e.g., passive sensors, active sensors, etc.), ordnance (e.g., “smart” or “dumb” weapons with or without propulsion and control), materials and supplies, unmanned vehicles (e.g., aerial, ground, surface or undersea vehicles), satellite platforms, living organisms, chemicals and liquids, and material dispensing systems. Accordingly, it is to be understood that operational payload  100  is not part of the present invention or a limitation thereof. 
   Shipping container  10  is any existing or specially-designed standardized shipping container having standardized outer dimensions and features to allow the use of existing handling and storage facilities that are used by a wide variety of military and commercial applications. For example, shipping container  10  could be a container constructed in accordance with standards set forth by the International Organization for Standardization or ISO as it is known. A standard ISO shipping container is illustrated in  FIG. 2  where, as is known in the art, corner fittings  102  provide the means for handling the container. Corner fittings  102  could also provide for the coupling of adjacent shipping containers. Further, the standard outer dimensions of the ISO shipping container are already relied upon by both military and commercial organizations. 
   Controller module  12  is representative of application-specific hardware and software that cooperates to control the functions of operational payload  100 . Such command and control of operational payload  100  can be pre-programmed into controller module  12  or can be provided in real time as will be explained further below. If pre-programmed, controller module  12  could be configured to trigger an operational sequence, for example, at a predetermined time, at a predetermined location, in response to a sensed condition, etc. 
   Communication with controller module  12  and operational payload  100  is made possible by communications module  14 . Such communication could be limited to monitoring the functions of controller module  12  and/or the status of operational payload  100 . Transfer of information from communications module  14  could occur through direct coupling thereto (e.g., via a data port  14 A accessible on the exterior of shipping container  10 ) by a hand-held or other portable computer. Additionally or alternatively, communications module  14  could include equipment capable of transmitting monitored data to a remote location. In such cases, communications module  14  could include a wireless transceiver  14 B for transmitting (e.g., via an antenna) the monitored data in a wireless fashion for receipt at a remote location. Further, wireless transceiver  14 B could be used to transfer control of operational payload  100  to an external controller (not shown) should controller module  12  fail or for other reasons. 
   Wireless transceiver  14 B could also serve as a receiver of instructions used to program controller module  12  in order to ultimately control the functions of operational payload  100 . In this way, the present invention provides for the remote control of operational payload  100  in real time. Thus, shipping container  10  could be delivered to a destination with on-site operation of the payload being brought about in an “unmanned” fashion from a remote location. 
   While FIG.  1  and the above description illustrate the basic elements of the present invention, additional features can be incorporated. Some of these features will now be described with the aid of  FIG. 3  where all or any single one or combination of the illustrated and described features could be incorporated with the basic system illustrated in  FIG. 1  depending on application requirements. Should a global position of shipping container  10  be required, such position information can be provided by either or both of a Global Positioning System (GPS) module  20  and an inertial navigation system (INS) module  22  which supply the determined position information to controller module  12 . 
   In applications requiring the release of shipping container  10  in a fluid environment such as the air or water, it may be necessary to couple an orientation system  24  to shipping container  10 . Orientation system  24  represents any apparatus or system designed to place shipping container  10  in a preferred orientation once it is released into a fluid environment. Accordingly, orientation system  24  could include, but is not limited to, parachutes, control surfaces and ballast devices. A shock absorption system  26  may also be required to absorb impact shocks when shipping container  10  hits the ground. Such shock absorption could include parachutes, springs, air cushions, etc. 
   Some applications may require shipping container  10  to travel short distances or be maneuvered at its delivery destination. For these applications, a propulsion system  28  can be provided and coupled to shipping container  10 . Control for propulsion system  28  would be governed by controller module  12 . 
   Should any or all of controller module  12 , communications module  14  and operational payload  100  be moisture sensitive, it may be necessary to waterproof the contents of shipping container  10 . Such waterproofing is indicated by dot-dash line  30 . Additionally, a climate control module  32  (e.g., air conditioning, heating, humidity, air pressure, etc.) can be provided in shipping container  10  and placed under the control of controller module  12 . It may also be necessary to protect the contents of shipping container  10  from electro-magnetic interference (EMI). Accordingly, EMI shielding can be provided as indicated by dotted line  34 . Still further, it may be necessary to protect the contents of shipping container  10  from various shock and/or vibration forces. For example, if protection from incoming projectiles is a concern, armor can be provided about some or all of the interior and/or exterior of shipping container  10  as indicated by dashed lines  36 . 
   As mentioned above, the present invention can be used to dispense a wide variety of payloads or systems. Accordingly,  FIG. 4  illustrates the additional features that must be incorporated with the basic  FIG. 1  design in order to accomplish the dispensing tasks. Payload manipulation robotics  40 , under the control of controller module  12 , are provided in shipping container  10 . Manipulation robotics  40  can be used to store and establish a predetermined dispensing sequence, and further used to dispense the payload at the appropriate time. Loading and dispensing of the payload can occur through one or more doors that form part of the outer structure of shipping container  10 . The doors can be located at one or more of the bottom, sides and top of shipping container  10  as indicated by doors  42 ,  44  and  46 , respectively. Each of doors  42 ,  44  and  46  is a mechanized door assembly that is opened/closed under the control of controller module  12 . 
   Some specific examples of the present invention in terms of payload dispensing are illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In  FIG. 5 , shipping container  10  houses automated/robotic bomb racks  50  which store and stage a variety of ordnance  200 . As dictated by instructions carried out by controller module  12 , bottom doors  42  are opened (as shown) and racks  50  are controlled to release some or all of ordnance  200 . In  FIG. 6 , shipping container  10  houses automated/robotic vehicle handling/dispensing racks  60  which store and stage a variety of unmanned vehicles such as undersea vehicles  202 , air vehicles  204  and surface vehicles  206  and  208 . As dictated by instructions carried out by controller module  12 , side doors  44  are opened (as shown) and racks  60  are controlled to release some or all of the stored vehicles. 
   The invention as described thus far contemplates a single container and its contents. However, the present invention can be extended to a system that delivers a plurality of such standardized “smart” containers where each container houses its own separately controllable operational payload. The payloads can be the same or different from container to container. In order to facilitate handling, delivery and protection of a plurality of the present invention&#39;s “smart” containers  10 , a system  70  is provided and illustrated in FIG.  7 . Each of shipping containers  10  is equipped in one of the ways described above where all shipping containers  10  could be equipped identically or each one could be uniquely equipped. 
   System  70  includes an outer structure  72  that mechanically receives each of shipping containers  10  in some positive fashion such as a slide-in bay, drop-in base, or in other ways known in the art. The choice of mechanical coupling of each shipping container  10  to structure  72  is not a limitation of the present invention. In addition, each shipping container  10  is coupled electronically to a container communications controller module  74 . For example, each container&#39;s data port  14 A could be “plugged” into controller module  74 . Controller module  74  can then monitor the status of each shipping container  10 , provide data (e.g., sensor data, position data, etc.) to each shipping container  10 , and provide any other control function as required by a specific application. Controller module  74  can be pre-programmed or controlled in real time from a remote location via, for example, a transceiver portion  74 A of controller module  74  that could operate in the same fashion as communications module  14  in each of shipping containers  10 . 
   Structure  72  typically includes lifting points  76  that are used when a crane lifts structure  72  onto a transport vehicle/ship or when structure  72  is lifted by means of an aircraft. Construction of structure  72  can vary with the particular application. For example, structure  72  could be implemented by a frame type of assembly (i.e., minimal or no solid walls) that provided for the loading of structure  72  from the sides and/or top thereof, while also allowing an individual container&#39;s side, bottom or top doors (not shown in  FIG. 7 ) to be opened as needed for dispensing of their payloads. Alternatively, structure  72  can be a closed, solid-wall structure having its own side, bottom and/or top doors individually controlled by controller module  74 . In this case, appropriate ones of shipping containers  10  could be notified by controller module  74  when the doors of structure  72  were opened. 
   System  70  can also be equipped with armor  78  along its bottom (as shown) or at other appropriate portions thereof. System  70  can also be equipped with sensors  80  that provide controller module  74  and, ultimately each of shipping containers  10 , with critical sensed data. In this way, one set of sensors could serve a plurality of the shipping containers that are designed to remain together for a given mission. 
   The loading of loaded shipping containers  10  on or into structure  72  will typically occur on a one-by-one basis. Since the weight of each loaded shipping container  10  can be substantial, the overall load balance of system  70  at any given time could be of concern. Accordingly, a plurality of load sensors  82  can be distributed about and coupled to structure  72  for sensing the load thereat at any given time. The output of load sensors  82  can be supplied to controller module  74  which can either process the sensed load data locally or pass it on to a remote location/processor via transceiver portion  74 A. The sensed load data can be used, for example, to indicate critical load imbalances, to indicate the location in structure  72  that the next loaded shipping container should occupy to balance the overall load of system  70 , to indicate the overall load of system  70  which is important to the vehicle transporting same, and to indicate changing status of the overall load of system  70  as shipping container payloads are dispensed. 
   The advantages of the present invention are numerous. The standardized “smart” shipping container equipped as described herein provides a new type of unmanned system that can be used to deliver and control an operational payload. By being standardized, the present invention offers the possibility of significant cost reduction in the area of delivering and dispensing a wide variety of payloads as existing handling and transportation of standard shipping containers is well utilized by both the military and commercial entities. The unmanned nature of the present invention will reduce the risk to personnel in military conflicts and/or hostile environments. At the same time, the present invention provides for real time control of an operational payload from a safe remote location. In terms of dispensing payloads in military conflicts, the present invention offers the opportunity to reduce the use of highly sophisticated aircraft and undersea vehicles as the means for delivering and dispensing ordnance, sensors and supplies. Instead, shipping containers can be delivered to their destination by means of less sophisticated “work horse” delivery platforms. 
   Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.