N08-177 TITLE: Offboard Refueling Support System for Unmanned Surface Vehicles

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS 501, Littoral Combat Ship Program, ACAT I

OBJECTIVE: Develop the capability for an Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) to perform function of a refueling tanker for refueling other offboard systems (USVs or unmanned underwater vehicles) without restricting host ship operations.

DESCRIPTION: Modern combatants are being designed to rely on offboard organic watercraft such as boat-based unmanned surface vehicles for primary mission focal areas. Because these watercraft have limited operational times due primarily to fuel consumption, it is a requirement that they periodically return to the host ship to be refueled. The time required to transit to the ship, be recovered by the ship, be refueled, be launched by the ship, and return to the operational area can be lengthy, and takes these watercraft out of an operational condition. Having a capability to launch an USV that carries fuel to the operational watercraft allows the watercraft to stay on station longer. The desire would be for the refueling USV to have the ability to transit to the watercraft, connect a refueling hose to a common port on the watercraft, refuel the watercraft, detach the refueling hose, and return to the host ship without human intervention. The challenge will be to develop an automated refueling hose capability that can detect the fueling port on a variety of watercraft with different orientations which are potentially moving due to sea state conditions. The ability to properly connect, disconnect and seal the fueling port during transfer operations without spilling fuel into the water or creating a fire hazard onboard either vehicle is critical to success. Concepts proposed should be able to operate in moderate sea states (up to 6 foot waves), should not exceed a length of 40 feet and should comply with existing launch, recovery and storage protocol for the host ship.

PHASE I: Develop and demonstrate the feasibility of an offboard refueling support system for unmanned surface vehicles that will provide the above capabilities. Approaches should address the concept of operations and projected capabilities, system descriptions, concept drawings, and applicable interface requirements.

PHASE II: Finalize the design, fabricate and demonstrate a prototype of the system developed in Phase I. Through land-based testing, demonstrate the functionality of the prototype. Develop detailed concept of operation and projected capabilities, prototype descriptions, production drawings, interface specifications, operating sequences, emergency procedures, logistics support plan, weight breakdown, system cost estimates (both acquisition and lifecycle), and manning/Human Systems Interface (H.S.I.) requirements.

PHASE III: In Phase III, it is expected that the contractor will work with government and commercial sponsors to finalize the prototype to create a marketable product.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The technology of automated refueling at sea removes personnel from a potentially hazardous environment, especially when two small watercraft are involved. It provides the marketing potential for unmanned or manned refueling ships to assist stranded watercraft that might otherwise require towing to shore, and improves the technology for contained refueling at sea to prevent fuel spills which are damaging to the environment, and can result in fines and/or prison for offenders, depending upon the size of the spill.

REFERENCES:
1. http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/unrep.htm.

2. NWP4-014, Replenishment at Sea.

3. ATP 16 Replishment at Sea (Allied).

4. Stowage, Handling and Disposal of Hazardous General Use Consumables, NSTM Ch 670-4.7.2, Rev. 3, 1 May 1997.

5. http://www.navysbir.com/ via the SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS) web link or on the World Wide Web.

KEYWORDS: Automated; refueling; unmanned; manpower; offboard; combatants.

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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