Unmanned underwater vehicle having monocoque body

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a monocoque body for an unmanned underwater vehicle (“UUV”) comprising a nose portion, a tail portion, a body interior surface, a body exterior surface. The monocoque body can be a one-piece structural shell made of fiber reinforced polymer. The UUV may further include transverse structural members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) comprising:
 a monocoque upper body providing structural support for the UUV, comprising:
 a nose portion, 
 a tail portion, 
 a body interior surface forming a cavity, and 
 at least one transverse structural member integrally formed into the monocoque upper body; 
   wherein the UUV is configured to receive a detachable payload.   
     
     
         2 . The UUV of  claim 1 , wherein the monocoque upper body comprises a one-piece structural shell made of fiber reinforced sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The UUV of  claim 2 , further comprising an acoustically transparent window. 
     
     
         4 . The UUV claim  4 , wherein the acoustically transparent window is integrally formed out of the fiber reinforced sheet and is configured to permit acoustic signals to travel through the monocoque upper body. 
     
     
         5 . The UUV of  claim 1 , wherein the UUV is adapted to be free-flooding. 
     
     
         6 . The UUV of  claim 1 , wherein the monocoque upper body further comprises an integrated pressure vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The UUV of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-structural cover coupled to the monocoque upper body, the nonstructural cover being disposed below the monocoque upper body and forming a portion of an outer surface of the UUV. 
     
     
         8 . The UUV of  claim 7 , wherein the nonstructural cover is adapted to have at least one of a lower strength or weight than that of the monocoque upper body. 
     
     
         9 . The UUV of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a non-structural nose portion cover coupled to the monocoque upper body below the nose portion;   a non-structural tail portion cover coupled to the monocoque upper body below the tail portion; and   wherein the non-structural nose portion cover and tail portion cover are separated by a gap, the gap forming a payload receiving area.   
     
     
         10 . The UUV of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the monocoque body further comprises an aperture extending through the body exterior surface, the aperture being configured to receive a face of a sensor connected to the monocoque body.   
     
     
         11 . The UUV of  claim 1 , wherein the upper body is constructed of a polymer reinforced by carbon fiber. 
     
     
         12 . The UUV of  claim 11 , wherein the monocoque upper body further comprises a body exterior and the body exterior surface forms 30% to 70% of a total exterior surface of the UUV. 
     
     
         13 . The UUV of  claim 1 , wherein the monocoque upper body further comprises one or more longitudinal supports extending axially along the monocoque upper body between the tail portion and the nose portion and forming an attachment rail. 
     
     
         14 . An unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) comprising:
 a monocoque upper body providing structural support for the UUV and adapted to receive a payload;   a non-structural nose portion cover coupled to the monocoque body proximate to the nose portion;   a non-structural tail portion cover coupled to the monocoque body proximate to the tail portion; and   wherein the non-structural nose portion cover and tail portion cover are separated by a gap, the gap forming a payload cavity.   
     
     
         15 . The UUV of  claim 14 , wherein the monocoque upper body comprises a one-piece structural shell made of fiber reinforced sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The UUV of  claim 14 , wherein the monocoque upper body further comprises an integrated pressure vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The UUV of  claim 14 , wherein each of the nonstructural nose portion cover and nonstructural tail portion cover are each adapted to have at least one of a lower strength or weight than that of the monocoque upper body. 
     
     
         18 . The UUV of  claim 14 , wherein the upper body is constructed of a polymer reinforced by carbon fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The UUV of  claim 14 , wherein the monocoque upper body further comprises a body exterior and the body exterior surface forms 30% to 70% of a total exterior surface of the UUV. 
     
     
         20 . The UUV of  claim 14 , wherein the monocoque upper body further comprises one or more longitudinal supports extending axially along the monocoque upper body between the tail portion and the nose portion and forming an attachment rail.