Michael L Sturm

US Patent:

45054410, Mar 19, 1985

Filed:

Jun 20, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/505809

Inventors:

Jerome Kirsch - Dix Hills NY
M. Alan Kopsco - Wantagh NY
Edward Markow - Oakdale NY
Michael Sturm - Flushing NY

Assignee:

Grumman Aerospace Corporation - Bethpage NY

International Classification:

F41G 900

US Classification:

244 315

Abstract:

A terrain-following transient surface contact vehicle for transporting a load from a surface starting point to a surface end point has a structure for carrying the load from the starting point to the end point. A vehicle support extends from the structure and abuts the surface and thereby supports the vehicle at a predetermined distance above the surface. An acquisition sensor mounted on the structure initiates surface operations. A sensor is mounted on the structure and cooperates with the acquisition sensor to sense and track a target at the end point upon initiation of surface operations. A power source is mounted on the structure and cooperates with the sensor to energize upon tracking of the target and to move the vehicle along the surface to impact with the target at the end point. A position control mounted on the vehicle produces a negative pitching moment to maintain the structure in terrain-following contact with the surface.

US Patent:

45054428, Mar 19, 1985

Filed:

Jun 20, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/505815

Inventors:

Jerome Kirsch - Dix Hills NY
M. Alan Kopsco - Wantagh NY
Edward Markow - Oakdale NY
Michael Sturm - Flushing NY

Assignee:

Grumman Aerospace Corporation - Bethpage NY

International Classification:

F41G 900
F42B 1520

US Classification:

244 315

Abstract:

A transient surface contact vehicle for transporting a load from a surface starting point to a surface end point has a structure for carrying the load from the starting point to the end point. A vehicle support extends from the structure. A buoyancy control device mounted in the structure is coupled to the vehicle support for selectively making the support buoyant and non-buoyant whereby when the support is buoyant it abuts the surface of a body of water thereby supporting the vehicle at a predetermined distance above the surface of the body of water. An acquisition sensor mounted on the structure initiates water surface operations. A sensor is mounted on the structure and cooperates with the acquisition sensor to energize upon tracking of the target and to move the vehicle along the water surface to impact with the target at the end point. A position control mounted on the vehicle produces a negative pitching moment to maintain the structure in surface-following contact with the body of water.