N112-135 TITLE: High Friction, Conforming Boat Capture and Transfer System

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Ground/Sea Vehicles

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS 500, DDG 1000 Program, ACAT 1

OBJECTIVE: Development of an innovative approach and associated energy absorbing technologies to enable safe capture and retrieval of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) of varying geometries while entering ship-based boat bays while under power.

DESCRIPTION: The DDG 1000 stern launch and retrieval system must be capable of safely retrieving RHIB boats with a 10 knot speed relative to the forward speed of the ship. Safe capture and retrieval of boats of varying geometries presently requires direct and often abrupt contact with the boats� hulls before the boat is transferred into the boat bay. The ability to safely retrieve boats under these conditions requires the ability to account for unpredictable dynamic forces while arresting the forward momentum of boats entering the boat bay. The currently planned boat capture and transfer system utilizes pneumatic tires with relatively high inflation pressures and a small, contact patch area which could result in high stress levels in the boat hulls and does not account for forces into the boat hulls above a 1g load condition in any direction.

This topic seeks an innovative approach to the capture and retrieval of manned and unmanned vessels in a manner that will minimize the applied force as seen by the vessel during the boat handling process. While RHIBs are of a current interest the system proposed must be flexible enough to allow for the handling of future technology innovations in the areas of unmanned vehicles. Once contact with the hull is established, proposed energy absorbing, high-friction material solution(s) must be capable of preventing a 21,000 pound vessel from sliding back into the water at a nominal ramp capture angle of 10 degrees and to allow for forward transfer further into the boat bay. Technologies/Concepts developed under this effort must account for dynamic conditions above 1 x gravity (1g) loading condition, absorbing energy in three axial directions. Use of alternative, hull surface-conforming, energy absorbing, material solutions are encouraged in the area perceived to be a key technical challenge in the execution of this topic: at the 10 degree ramp angle where one would expect to see a high, normal, contact force between the vessel and the capture contact surface. Proposed concepts can be in the form of an innovative interface to the existing system or an entirely new approach that fits within the hull-form trade space. Proposed concepts should be able to operate in a maritime environment and meet performance requirements as indentified in the references while covered in salt or fresh water and under widely varying water and air temperatures (arctic to tropical up to a sea state 5 condition. Proposed concepts must provide a minimum Factor of Safety of 2.0 at all points of contact, conform to hull geometries and shapes and provide a high capture force on a 10 degree ramp incline. Additionally, any system or solution proposed must have low acquisition and lifecycle costs, be mechanically simple, and provide for safe ship operations in a variety of shipboard conditions including high ship speeds and up to sea states 5. Open architecture design principles are strongly encouraged.

PHASE I: Demonstrate the feasibility of the development of an innovative approach and associated energy absorbing technologies to enable safe capture and retrieval of Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) of varying geometries while entering ship-based boat bays while under power. As applicable, demonstrate the effectiveness of the solution with modeling and simulation and engineering analysis. Establish performance goals and provide a Phase II development approach and schedule that contains discrete milestones for product development

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate and fabricate a prototype as identified in Phase I. In a laboratory environment, demonstrate that the prototype product meets the performance goals established during Phase I. Of particular interest is the demonstration of the prototype�s ability to launch, recover and secure a variety of boat size in simulated shipboard conditions. Provide a detailed plan for software and/or hardware certification, validation, and method of implementation into a future ship test and/or design environment. Prepare cost estimates, logistics data packages, and interface documents for use in both forward fit and retrofit ship programs.

PHASE III: Working with the Navy and Industry as applicable, prepare installation plans to modify the existing boat handling system aboard DDG 1000 to test the system�s effectiveness at-sea during sea trials. Conduct shipboard testing to evaluate performance in the Navy environment and develop plans for shipboard certification and application. Develop transition plans for shipboard and commercial uses of the system developed.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: This technology applies and could be used on commercial vessels conducting stern-ramp recovery operations e.g. research vessels, commercial cargo roll-on/roll-off Ships, etc.

REFERENCES:
1. Destroyers - DDG; http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=900&ct=4

2. DDG 1000 Launch and Recovery Boat Handling Information Sheet - Available Upon Request

3. SeaFrame Carderock Publication 2009 Volume 5 Issue 1 (Reference page 11-12); http://www.navsea.navy.mil/nswc/carderock/seaframe/issues/SEAFRAME-Vol5-Iss1.pdf>

KEYWORDS: boat handling; boat retrieval; boat capture; launch and recovery; RHIB

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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