Skunkworks Hands-On Program (SHOP) Mission #2 Project Report: A Naval Vessel Protection Zone Enforcement System

摘要

Following the events of 11 September 2001 and the USS Cole incident, a set of safety zones was established around US naval vessels. Currently, teams of up to six sailors enforce these zones by either standing watch on deck or patrolling in a rigid-hull-inflatable-boat (RHIB). Foul weather, rough sea states, personnel fatigue, and required manpower make this arrangement less than optimal. In response to these factors, a team of entry-level scientists and engineers from Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) has developed and demonstrated a low-cost semi-autonomous proof-of-concept (POC) system for close-in surface threat detection, monitoring, tracking, and response in littoral environments utilizing an eight-month rapid-prototyping systems engineering process. The system is modular-designed to be placed, in part, aboard an unmanned surface vessel (USV)-and employs radar detection and optical inspection methods. The result is a system capable of performing threat detection and tracking, reducing the manning requirements of zone enforcement, and operating in environments inhospitable to people. This paper discusses system development, architecture, results of preliminary POC testing and evaluation, and technical benefits of the system.