Deploying COTS Subsystems in UUVs

In December, 2016 the newest class of unmanned vehicles, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) made international headlines after China, in an unprecedented act, seized an unclassified “ocean glider” operated by an oceanographic survey ship, the USNS Bowditch, about 50 nautical miles northwest of Subic Bay in the Philippines. According to the Pentagon, the captured UUV, which was soon returned to the US, was measuring salinity and temperature in the area.

While most people have become very familiar with unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles, general awareness of the new class of Unmanned Maritime Systems (UMS), including UUVs and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) has just begun. The US Navy currently deploys a variety of UMS platforms for use in mine warfare, mine neutralization, reconnaissance, surveillance, hydrographic surveying, environmental analysis, special operations, and oceanographic research missions. Ranging in size from man-portable systems to as much as 40 feet long. These UMSs can be launched and recovered from submarines or surface vessels.