Use of USVs for Modular Lightweight Minesweeping

UMS workshop 28-29 May 2014
Porto
Morten Nakjem, Rune Fardal, Patrick Cleophas
FFI (Norwegian Defence Research Establishment)
Agenda
• Background
– MLM project
• Relevant Equipment
• Current Status
• Brest sea trials
– Preliminary results
• MLM follow up project
– Future Unmanned Mine Sweeping
EDA MLM:
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EDA project A-919-ESM1-GP.10
Total budget for the project: 6400 k€
Contracts signed in December 2011.
Closing meeting scheduled in September 2014.
Participating nations/industries:
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FFI (Norwegian Defense Research Establishment), Norway
THALES Underwater Systems SAS, France,
DCNS, France,
DGA, France,
SIEL s.r.l., Italy,
Calzoni s.r.l, Italy,
OBR Centrum Techniki Morskiej S.A (CTM ), Poland,
WTD-71, Germany.
Objectives and methodology for
achieving objectives
• The main purpose of the MLM project is to demonstrate an unmanned
light-weight modular minesweeping system.
• This is done through:
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theoretical studies.
numerical modeling.
development and integration of sources and platforms.
verifications by sea trials.
• The system demonstrated is not a fully operational system, but based
on currently available assets and modifications of these.
• The project will evaluate the MCM capability of these systems and
areas for further R&T development will be addressed.
Light-weight modular minesweeping
system performance goals:
• Be capable of generating the same signatures as the high
performance minesweeping systems of today.
• Sweep sources placed on one or several smaller USVs that operate
together to generate the signatures of the ships to protect.
Sweep parameter setting
• Since the sweep signature is generated by several USVs operating in
formation it will be possible to generate a variety of signatures.
– The project has simulated different USV formations and required source
levels of the sweep sources.
– Software and hardware for formation control of USVs is under
development.
SCN2
SCN1
SCN4
SCN3
SCR
MLM Current Status
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Project is on schedule:
– 4 progress meetings performed
• All deliverables delivered as planned
• Formation control development (WP4) formally closed but extended by
Calzoni funding
– Closing meeting in September (La Spezia, Italy)
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Work packages:
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WP0 (FFI):
WP1 (DGA):
WP2 (FFI):
WP3 (CTM):
WP4 (Calzoni):
WP5 (DGA):
WP6 (FFI):
Management
Define reference solutions
Modelling
Sources and interfaces
Formation control of USVs
Sea trials
Analysis
Ongoing
Closed
Ongoing
Closed
Closed
Closed
Ongoing
Sea trials: Assets
• Norway:
– FFI:
Management, 2 UEP sweep sources
• Italy:
– Calzoni:
– SIEL:
1 USV, formation control system
2 USVs with magnetic sweep source
• France:
– Thales:
– DCNS:
– DGA:
2 AAG acoustic sweep sources
1 USV ”Sterenn-Du”
Measurement range, organising the sea trail, general
trail support.
• Germany:
– WTD 71: Pressure source
• Poland:
– CTM:
”Promienica” sweep system with acoustic, magnetic and
UEP sweep sources.
Sea trials
• 3 weeks (16. September – 4. october 2013)
• DGA mesurement range Lanveoc
• Tests planned 1 year
– Several deliverables on planning and preparation
• Excellent DGA organization and support
– Many support vessels available
• Many vessels and systems
• Many people (50+)
• High focus on safety
– “High risk” trials
Deep range
Medium
range
Shallow
Range
Successful measurements
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Promienica mod:
– 2 days , 7 different sweep settings
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SIEL USVs
– Several days, many different settings
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Pressure sweep
– 2 days, variable depth
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Formation control
– Several run using SIEL formation control
– 1 run using Calzoni formation control
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AAG acoustic source
– Several run with Sterenn-Du
– Several run with SIEL USVs
– 1 run with Calzoni USV
Experiences Vessels - Sterenn Du
• High tow force
• Stable
• Pilot driven (2 persons)
– Restrictions on unmanned
use
Experiences Vessels - SIEL USV
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Easy to deploy (operational within 2 hours)
Easy to switch between pilot, remote and auto
Formation control
High speed
High tow force
Stable
Multi role
Experiences Vessels - Calzoni USV
• High speed
• Engine and transmission not suitable for high tow load and low
speed
• Metal hull not suitable for electric source
Experiences sweep systems - Promienica mod
• Fairly easy to deploy
• Can change magnetic and electric settings during operation
• Can not change distance between modules during operation
Experiences sweep systems – SIEL magnetic
source
• Easily mounted on USV
• Flexible:
– static and alternating, jamming
• Large magnetic moment
Experiences sweep systems – FFI electric
source
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Small fixed on hull
Can adjust level, but not polarity during operation
Only static
Low degradation after 2 ½ weeks
Experiences sweep systems – WTD71 pressure
source
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Fairly easy to deploy
Not possible to change depth during operation
Full scale source not available (1:5 model used)
Under development
Experiences sweep systems – Thales acoustic
source
• Thales AAG:
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Easy to deploy
No need for external power
Possible to change settings during operation
Need to be operated within a “speed window”.
Operational
Experiences formation control
• Calzoni system too rigid
– Master – lead – followers
• Calzoni system under development
• SIEL system more simple, but worked very well
– in «high» sea, strong current and with variable load on USVs
Preliminary analysis
• CTM
• Thales
• WTD71
• SIEL
• FFI
magnetic (S+A), acoustic, electric (S+A),
signature analysis
acoustic
signature analysis
pressure
signature analysis
magnetic (S+A),
signature analysis, mine algorithms, mine field
magnetic (S) and electric (S),
signature analysis, mine algorithms
• Very good agreement between simulations and measurements
– Results as expected
– High magnetic, electric and acoustic sweep performance against
relevant targets
MLM follow up project
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The current MLM project ends in September 2014
– Produced valuable results:
• lightweight sweep sources
• USVs performing mine sweeping in formation
• Source – USV integration
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Still many unanswered questions regarding unmanned mine sweeping
– MLM partners interested in a follow-up project
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Relevant issues:
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Further development of MLM sources
High output sources
USV technology
Support ship for USVs
• Launch and recovery of USVs and sweep systems