Methodology for the Deployment of Small Payloads from a Host Underwater Vehicle

Author

Michael Passin, University of Rhode Island
Noah Vietri, University of Rhode Island
William Corson, University of Rhode Island

Date of Award

2022

Degree Type

Capstone Project

Abstract

In this report, Team 4’s research, work completion, and development of the project is recorded. The goal of the project is to develop a methodology for the deployment of small payloads from a host underwater vehicle. This report shows the design, production, and testing of a system of deploying payloads that utilizes a central rotating assembly that actuates a spring-loaded door. The system utilizes the buoyancy of the payloads to deploy vertically, either upwards or downwards.

After many hours of research, brainstorming and sorting, the team decided on a promising concept with the assistance of the team’s mentor from NUWC. In the report, the methodologies, decisions, and research completed is described in depth. The deployment method must reach a few major design criteria. It must be able to fit into a section 10 inches wide and 36 inches long to deploy at least three payloads of three inches in diameter and that are up to 27 inches long. The system must also require minimal maintenance while using mostly off the shelf parts.

With that being said, using Pugh charts, competitive analysis, engineering analysis and testing the believes that the concept chosen has the potential to fully meet all requirements laid out by the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. After producing a scale prototype of the deployment mechanism, the system was refined during above water testing, as the system was designed to be minimally impacted by water. After the system was reliably deploying on land, underwater testing was conducted, with the system functioning as designed with minimal issues.

As the year comes to an end, the team can reflect on all of the accomplishments that have been achieved. The mechanism produced was able to reliably deploy all of its payloads in both submerged and unsubmerged environments, while keeping its simplistic design.

Comments

Team Name: Team 4

Sponsor: Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC)

Sponsor Representative: Daynamar Delgado-Nieves

Document Reference: URI-MCE-402-004-2022

Recommended Citation

Passin, Michael; Vietri, Noah; and Corson, William, "Methodology for the Deployment of Small Payloads from a Host Underwater Vehicle" (2022). Mechanical Engineering Capstone Design Projects. Paper 184.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/mechanical-engineering-capstones/184