The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Feb. 05, 2019

Filed:

Sep. 21, 2016
Applicant:

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);

Inventors:

Harry J. Lichter, Riviera Beach, FL (US);

Wayne A. Baker, Riviera Beach, FL (US);

Russell M. Sylvia, Marion, MA (US);

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B63G 8/00 (2006.01); B63G 8/08 (2006.01); B63G 8/14 (2006.01); B63G 8/16 (2006.01); B63G 8/30 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B63G 8/08 (2013.01); B63G 8/001 (2013.01); B63G 8/14 (2013.01); B63G 8/16 (2013.01); B63G 8/30 (2013.01); B63G 2008/004 (2013.01); B63G 2008/008 (2013.01);
Abstract

Autonomous underwater vehicles are described that are stackable with other like autonomous underwater vehicles on a suitable launch platform, such as within a vertical missile launch tube of a submarine, waiting to be deployed into the water. The underwater vehicles can be deployed or launched individually, in groups, or all together into the water. While stacked together, the stacked autonomous underwater vehicles can connect to one another or to external structure of the launch platform. In addition, the underwater vehicles can be positively buoyant or can be made to have controllable buoyancy to allow the underwater vehicles to float up and out of the launch platform during deployment without an external deployment force.


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