Patent ID: 7854569

Claim:
A recovery apparatus comprising: a frame; a tether connection device coupled to the frame such that the frame may be tethered to a remote surface platform; one or more long-range and close-range location sensors coupled to the frame configured to locate and communicate with an untethered unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV); wherein the long-range and close-range location sensors are acoustic and non-acoustic sensors; a first mechanical linking device coupled to the frame, wherein the first mechanical linking device is configured to mechanically capture the UUV; a plurality of steering mechanisms coupled to the frame, wherein the plurality of steering mechanisms are configured to actively guide the frame through a body of water in such a way as to allow the first mechanical linking device to capture the UUV when underwater; wherein the apparatus is configured to be remotely controlled by an operator in order to position the frame within an appreciably close range of the UUV; wherein when the frame is within the appreciably close range of the UUV, the apparatus is configured to then autonomously capture the UUV; a short-range communication system configured to communicate with the UUV; and wherein the apparatus is configured to control movement of the UUV via the short-range communication system.