For this assignment I have selected the submarine rescue diving and recompression system (SRDRS). The SRDRS is an unmanned underwater system used to rescue damaged or disabled submerged submarines. It is designed as a rapid deployment system in the event of a submarine accident and can be easily transported by air, ground, or sea. Once on site, the SRDRS is tethered to a mothered ship, lowered into the water and remotely operated to the accident area where it attaches to the disabled submarine’s hatch. The SRDRS is able to carry up to 16 rescued personnel. The system is comprised of three subsystems; the assessment/underwater work system (AUWS); the submarine rescue system-rescue capable system (SRS-RCS); and the submarine rescue system-submarine decompression system (SRS-SDS). The SRDRS is built by Phoenix international in San Diego, California, it measures 49 feet in length and can reach a maximum depth of 2,000 feet (Keller, 2015; U.S. NAVY, 2015).
The first system of the SRDRS, the AUWS, consists of the ADS2000, is a manned atmospheric dive system capable of clearing debris and inspecting the damaged submarine. This system is expected to be replaced soon by an unmanned underwater system. The second system consists of the pressurized rescued module (PRM), launch and recovery system, and support equipment. The third system, the submarine decompression system (SDS), is the system that allows rescued personnel to remain under pressure providing direct transfer to decompression chambers (submarine rescue, n.d.; U.S. NAVY 2008).
What proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensors does your selected system have that are specifically designed for the maritime environment?
Among the proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensors on the SRDRS are forward and aft scanning sonar, doppler sonar, forward profiling sonar, ultra-short baseline (USBL) acoustic tracking beacon, charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor, and a SIT equivalent ocean camera. A total of 12 cameras and three scanning sonars.
What is one modification you would make to the existing system to make it more successful in maritime search and rescue operations?
The only modification I would make, which by the way is one of the already proposed changes, is to make the assessment/underwater diving system fully unmanned. Unmanned underwater vehicles can now be used to conduct inspections of the submerged, disabled vehicles.
How can maritime unmanned systems be used in conjunction with UAS to enhance their effectiveness?
Maritime unmanned systems can work in conjunction with unmanned aerial systems and enhanced operational effectiveness by maintaining communication between the two or three assets. UAVs can get to the area rapidly and analyze the situation before the unmanned maritime system gets on station. In fact, earlier this year a Lockheed Martin’s unmanned underwater vehicle, the Marlin 2, was able to launch a Vector Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle proving that unmanned underwater systems and unmanned aerial vehicles can work jointly and autonomously toward the same objective (Lockheed Martin, 2016).
What advantages do unmanned maritime systems have over their manned counterparts? Are there sensor suites that are more effective on unmanned systems?
One the advantages that unmanned maritime systems have over their manned counterparts, is cost savings. Because unmanned maritime systems do not carry humans on board, they don’t need life support systems allowing them to be smaller in size.
References
English, J. & Gibson, J. (n.d.). Pressurized rescue module system: U.S. NAVY’s future submarine rescue vehicle. Retrieved from http://www.oceanworks.com/admin/sitefile/1/files/OW2002_Pressurized%20Rescue%20Module.pdf
Keller, J. (2015, November 9). Navy readies deployable unmanned underwater vehicle to rescue sunken submaribne crews. Retrieved from http://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2015/11/unmanned-submarine-rescue.html
Lockheed martin. (2016, September 28). From under the sea to up in the air: Lockheed Martin conducts first underwater unmanned aircraft launch from unmanned underwater vehicle. Retrieved from http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2016/september/160928-rms-first-underwater-unmanned-aircraft-launch-from-unmanned-underwater-vehicle.html
Submarine rescue diving and recompression system. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/systems/srdrs.htm
U.S. NAVY. (2015, October 19). Submarine rescue diving and recompression system (SRDRS). Retrieved from http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4100&tid=400&ct=4
U.S. NAVY. (2008, October 2). New submarine rescue asset joins fleet. Retrieved from http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=40147
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