ALARS - Adaptable Launch and Recovery System
|
Program Directive
To develop the technology for a universal stern-deck deployed launch and recovery system for off-board organic vehicles. This program is being funded by the United States Navy, and is a joint effort between Michigan Aerospace Corporation and the University of Michigan's Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
|
Project Description:
As the U.S. Navy increases its reliance on unmanned surface and underwater vehicles for various survey and
reconnaissance tasks, the need for an effective, multi-purpose launch and recovery system to field those vehicles
becomes apparent. To meet this need, Michigan Aerospace Corporation, in collaboration with the University of
Michigan’s Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering has developed a conceptual approach
to a modular adaptable launch and recovery system that will meet the Navy’s needs for off-board organic
vehicle (OOV) handling. The conceptual framework for the Adaptable Launch and Recovery System (ALARS) was
designed and developed through the use of dynamic computer simulation and scale model similitude testing in
the University of Michigan’s physical modeling basin. MAC improved its original conceptual designs
based on this testing and arrived at a finalized system concept.
Concept Design:
The ALARS system consists of a central command console, a deployable inflatable landing ramp structure, and a
towed recovery vehicle. This vehicle was designed with the intent of being a standardized interface with
interchangeable components to allow it to adapt to multiple OOV types
Surface Recovery
|
|
For stability, a catamaran hull design was pursued, utilizing two hollow pontoons connected by struts to a center command module. This module houses the towline attachment points and a rear-mounted adaptor mount containing Michigan Aerospace Corporation's newest version of its docking mechanism, the Autonomous Vehicle Docking System, which is adaptable to a wide range of environments and platforms. The central control module houses the guidance electronics (such as a transponder for unmanned surface craft) and any visual beacons that will be required for manned docking (such as marker lights) on manned surface craft. The pontoons themselves are designed as planting hulls, with a foam-based floatation rim about the top. This rim provides a cushioned buffer for surface vehicles that are attempting to dock, minimizing the potential for hard impacts.
Sub-Surface Recovery |
|
The Underwater Recovery Vehicle (URV) concept utilizes a cylindrical hull shape with a dorsal guide fin
and side-mounted hydrofoil dive planes. This allows the URV to become submerged to a prescribed depth and
to maintain its depth and straight heading with simple controls. The structure is basically two separate
cylindrical hulls connected in the middle by an ovate ring framework which houses inflatable air pads and
functions as a docking cradle. Each hull contains guidance and control electronics to allow the vehicle to
be controlled from the central console aboard the mother ship, as well as servomotors for operating the
attached dive planes. Two slimmer hulls are located at the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the ovate ring
structure, which house the guide rudder and additional pneumatic architecture for inflatable pads on top
and bottom of the docking cradle.
Dynamic Computer Simulation
Because of the difficulty of the problem and the requirement for operation in Sea State 5 conditions,
Michigan Aerospace Corporation developed a simulation model of the towed array system and performed a
series of dynamic computer simulations to characterize the behavior of the system under mission conditions.
For this study, models of the Navy warships that are to be fitted with the recovery system were analyzed
by the University of Michigan’s Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. The bulk
motions of these vessels were characterized at various Sea States, forward speeds, and headings. This
data was then run through the MSC.ADAMS software at Michigan Aerospace Corporation to develop a dynamic
model of the towed array behavior in realistic conditions.
Similitude Testing
A concept prototype was tested at the Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory at the University of Michigan
in the physical modeling basin facility. The scale prototype was developed to validate the simulated
behavior of the concept design under mission-like conditions.
|
Contact Us 
