A System to Launch, Fuel and Recover a Radio Controlled Vehicle (DOLPHIN) From a Vessel Underway

A system to launch, fuel and recover the radio controlled vehicle DOLPHIN from a vessel underway was designed, built, and tested at sea. Launching is done at 3 to 6 knots from two davits while a tow line is still hooked to the nose. The support lines are released when the vehicle reaches the water and the tow line slips off when it moves away. Fueling is accomplished, also at 3 to 6 knots, by first hooking the robot to the tow line and then slipping a hose to the fueling probe. For recovery, the DOLPHIN is hooked to the tow line and then steered into an open-sided cradle which lifts it up onboard. The system has been tested in moderate sea conditions and plans are to improve its performance to operate at 8 to 10 knots and in sea state 5.