MARITIME VEHICLE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Implementations described and claimed herein provide an underwater vehicle includes a vehicle body having a frame enclosed by a fairing. The vehicle body extends between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior. A nose is disposed at the proximal end of the vehicle body. The nose has a tow system configured to move between a tow position and a stow position. A propulsion system is disposed at the distal end of the vehicle body. The propulsion system includes a plurality of control fins and a thruster. A power distribution system is housed in the interior of the vehicle body. The power distribution system includes a first power system housed in a first pressure vessel and a second power system housed in a second pressure vessel. The first pressure vessel is isolated from the second pressure vessel.
1 . An underwater vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body having a frame enclosed by a fairing, the vehicle body extending between a proximal end and a distal end and defining an interior;
a power distribution system housed in the interior of the vehicle body;
a first power system of the power distribution system, the first power system disposed in a first pressure vessel in the interior; and
a second power system of the power distribution system, the second power system disposed in a second pressure vessel in the interior.
2 . The underwater vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first power system corresponds to a first voltage and the second power system corresponds to a second voltage.
3 . The underwater vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage is lower than the second voltage.
4 . The underwater vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure vessel is isolated from the second pressure vessel.
5 . The underwater vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second power system provides power to the first power system via a bus.
6 . The underwater vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure vessel is disposed at the proximal end of the vehicle body and the second pressure vessel is disposed at the distal end of the vehicle body.
7 . The underwater vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the proximal end of the vehicle body corresponds to a nose and the distal end of the vehicle body corresponds to a tail.
8 . The underwater vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the tail includes a propulsion system.
9 . An underwater vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
an interior defined in the vehicle body;
a power distribution system housed in the interior of the vehicle body; and
a power system of the power distribution system, the power system disposed in a pressure vessel in the interior.
10 . The underwater vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the pressure vessel is one of a plurality of pressure vessels in the interior.
11 . The underwater vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the power system of the power distribution provides power to a propulsion system.
12 . The underwater vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the power distribution system is agnostic to energy source.
13 . The underwater vehicle of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second power system of the power distribution system disposed in the interior and outside of the pressure vessel.
14 . The underwater vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the second power system is disposed in a second pressure vessel.
15 . An underwater vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
an interior defined in the vehicle body;
a power distribution system housed in the interior of the vehicle body;
a first power system of the power distribution system disposed in the interior proximate to the proximal end; and
a second power system of the power distribution system disposed in the interior proximate to the distal end.
16 . The underwater vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first power system provides power to first vehicle components and the second power system provides power to second vehicle components.
17 . The underwater vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the first vehicle components include a propulsion system.
18 . The underwater vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the first power system is isolated from the second power system.
19 . The underwater vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the first power system is isolated from the second power system using at least one pressure vessel.
20 . The underwater vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the at least one pressure vessel includes a first pressure vessel and a second pressure vessel, the first power system disposed in the first pressure vessel and the second power system disposed in the second pressure vessel.