|
Through
several ANTX demonstrations, the Bluefin SandShark M-AUVs surfaced and
functioned independent of the heavyweight-class Bluefin-21. In one mission
scenario, the Bluefin-21 simulated data collection and transfer of target
imagery and other information to two Bluefin SandSharks. Those Bluefin
SandSharks then surfaced to communicate with a Blackwing unmanned aerial
vehicle. The Blackwing relayed the information back to a submarine combat
control system ashore for decision-making authority and subsequent command
of Bluefin SandShark M-AUVs.
In a separate demonstration during the ANTX exercise, the Bluefin-21
hosted acoustic sensors from industry and academia.
“Our successful ANTX demonstrations showed that unmanned vehicles
can deliver capabilities across the undersea and air operating domains.
This system of systems approach leverages Bluefin-21’s larger
payload delivery, longer endurance and superior navigation capabilities
to deliver smaller payloads such as autonomous underwater vehicles or
unmanned aerial vehicles and sensors, providing the Navy with additional
mission capabilities,” said Tracy Howard, a senior manager for
Autonomous Undersea Vehicles for General Dynamics Mission Systems. |
|
The Bluefin-21
AUV is modular and designed with the flexibility to carry and launch
a variety of AUVs in configurations that include M-AUVS, larger AUVs,
and unmanned aerial vehicles. A Bluefin-21 can be reconfigured for multiple
missions with varying payloads including intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance sensors and communications nodes to expand maritime
network communications. For example, the Bluefin-21 AUV is the base
vehicle for the Navy’s Knifefish program, a surface mine countermeasure
unmanned underwater vehicle.
The Bluefin SandShark M-AUV weighs approximately 15 pounds without sensors
and its potential missions include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,
mine countermeasures, sea-floor mapping and imaging.
Sponsored by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport Division, 2016
ANTX is a forum for industry to join with academia and Navy laboratories
to demonstrate new technologies that will accelerate technology from
development, to in-water testing, to fielding the new capabilities for
the Navy’s fleet. The theme for this year’s exercise was
Cross-Domain Communications, Command, and Control and took place at
the Navy’s Narragansett Bay Test facility in Newport, R.I. |
