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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 15, 1995
Filed:
May. 13, 1993
R Norris Keeler, McLean, VA (US);
Robert S Manthy, Suffield, CT (US);
Troy J LaMontague, Broad Brook, CT (US);
Randall McGee, Tucson, AZ (US);
Kaman Aerospace Corporation, Bloomfield, CT (US);
Abstract
An underwater maneuverable vehicle is presented which carries an explosive charge and can be used for immediate removal or destruction of various menaces to navigation and other underwater hazards. The battery powered vehicle is air dropped from a platform which carries an imaging lidar system for detection and is operated and navigationally controlled in conjunction with an imaging lidar system. In accordance with an important feature of this invention, an optical lidar downlink is used to control the submerged underwater maneuverable vehicle from an airborne platform. The downlink is pulse spaced modulated. Command signals are secure, and are decoded aboard the vehicle. Control in speed, heading and depth, as well as command detonation are available using this technique.