The Boeing Company
Apparatus and methods for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle having a payload deployment assembly

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus are provided for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle into water, in which the unmanned marine vehicle includes a float and a glider connected by a tether. The apparatus includes a buoyant frame having a first frame arm, and a second frame arm spaced from the first frame arm to define a receiving bay between the first frame arm and the second frame arm, wherein the receiving bay is sized to receive the float. A glider retainer assembly is coupled to the buoyant frame and configured to releasably retain the glider. The apparatus further includes a payload deployment assembly having an attachment plate coupled to and positioned below the buoyant frame, and a payload compartment releasably coupled to the attachment plate by a payload release, wherein the payload compartment defines a receptacle sized to receive a payload coupled to the glider, and the payload compartment has a density greater than water.