RU2787578C1 - System for monitoring for above-water and underwater situation - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: surveillance devices.

SUBSTANCE: rotating aerostat with blades is connected by a cable to an electric generator generating energy for provision of power supply of consumers and recharging of a battery. The electric generator is located in an upper part of a radio-transparent case, inside which there is a radar, and a video camera and a thermal imager are located below. In a lower part, the radio-transparent case is connected by a cable to electric winch being in a case of a hydroacoustic detection device. The cable retains the structure at a certain height, a cable line is laid inside it, and an antenna of a data reception and transmission system is located on the cable. In an upper part of the hydroacoustic detection device, there are devices of a hydroacoustic detection system, the data reception and transmission system, a computing complex, a pump with a pressure sensor, an electric generator with a propeller, and, in a lower part, it is connected to a pipe, which, using the battery, is fixed in the soil.

EFFECT: provision of a possibility of autonomous and long-term monitoring for an above-water and underwater situation and timely detection, notification, and issue of motion characteristics and parameters about detected objects, and, if necessary, movement of detection means to a new water area section.

1 cl, 1 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of observation devices designed for continuous monitoring of individual sections of the water surface, detection of surface / underwater targets, in solving the problems of protecting extended sea areas capable of autonomous operation for a long time, due to the ability to replenish electricity during operation.

Russia has the longest maritime borders in the world, therefore it maintains a large border fleet to control the water space in the coastal zone, in the straits and the economic zone of our country, to prevent unauthorized entry and passage in special zones (Northern Sea Route), and conduct illegal economic activities .

At the same time, the Coast Guard is forced to operate in completely different climatic and geographical conditions, which determines the presence of various types of ships. Ice-class ships for the Arctic zone, ships of increased range and autonomy in the Far East, small maneuverable speed boats for the Caspian basin.

It is impossible to ensure the protection of the Russian maritime border by using only watercraft, for effective control it is necessary to use complex use of both ships and aviation, including unmanned, stationary and mobile observation posts and various other technical means. To ensure continuous control over the surface and underwater situation, it is necessary to equip the border agencies with modern weapons, military and special equipment.

Currently, unmanned aerial vehicles, Russian-made television equipment and automated power supply systems for technical equipment using alternative energy sources are successfully used to protect the state border. Issues are being worked out on the use of the capabilities of remote sensing of the earth's surface from spacecraft to monitor the situation on the state border.

For continuous monitoring of the situation on the sea section of the border, stationary passive sonar systems are used that are capable of detecting underwater and surface objects in the hydroacoustic field, conducting hydroacoustic monitoring of detected surface and underwater objects with determining the course, speed and model of their behavior, automated classification of objects by their noise emission .

Radar stations (RLS) capable of detecting objects at long distances and in any weather act as effective means of monitoring the surface and underwater conditions. Radars also have the ability to detect submerged objects, as they create waves on the surface of the water. This effect is actively used to detect submarines.

There is a known method of constructing a radar station of a circular view of a tethered balloon (Patent RU No. 2652512 of 2018), located in a gas-filled radio-transparent shell of a tethered balloon, its antenna with the equipment installed on it is driven by a torque motor into continuous rotation around the axis of the gimbal joint of the radar with the carrier platform of the balloon, forming the flywheel of a gyroscopic pendulum, and the increments of the azimuthal angle of the antenna pattern are determined by the readings of a laser goniometer associated with the antenna, and the origin of the antenna coordinate system is determined by episodic direction finding of a landmark with known coordinates relative to the coordinates of the balloon.

The disadvantage of this device is the lack of autonomous operation without the use of external power supply.

A mobile sonobuoy-beacon is also known (Patent RU No. 2709058 dated 2018), including a power source, control equipment, a pop-up float with an antenna and a receiver of a satellite navigation system of the GLONASS type and equipment for receiving and emitting sonar signals, a mobile sonar buoy-beacon is located in a separate module of an autonomous uninhabited underwater vehicle, having an onboard control system, communication and navigation devices, a power plant with a power source and an engine, a propulsion unit, steering gear drives and external empennage with rudders, the module is additionally equipped with a device for separating a pop-up float with an antenna from the underwater vehicle and returning it back with a drive and a coil with a cable connecting the receiver of the satellite navigation system located in the float with the antenna, with the buoy control equipment, as well as the device for recognizing the signals of the request of their forces to allow the transmission of the information requested by them, encrypted rum that converts information to prevent its recovery in the event of interception by foreign objects and a decoder that performs the reverse transformation of information, a computing device and hydrostatic and hydrodynamic pressure sensors that are used to calculate the drift speed of a mobile sonar buoy-beacon when it is laid on the ground, the direction and magnitude of the horizontal drift of the float relative to the setting point.

The disadvantage of this device is the need to ensure the operation of the device by surface or underwater craft, while the mobile sonar buoy-beacon depends on weather conditions.

Constant support is required to process the received information and power technical devices.

The closest in technical essence to the claimed invention is an autonomous technical observation post for monitoring the situation in a protected area (Patent RU No. 2634761 of 2016), containing a multispectral video surveillance system consisting of a long-range video camera and a thermal imager placed on a turntable; a system for receiving and transmitting data over a radio channel; an autonomous power supply system consisting of solar panels, a wind generator with a vertical axis of rotation and a battery pack, the post is made in the form of a single structure, including a hollow base, on the lateral outer surface of which solar panels are placed, a wind generator with a vertical axis of rotation fixed on the upper surface of the base, at the top which there is a platform with a turntable placed on it with a multispectral video surveillance system, and a system for receiving and transmitting data via a radio channel, as well as an underground sealed caisson connected to the lower part of the base of the post, in which batteries and a charger are located, a radar station is located on the upper platform of the wind generator station.

The disadvantage of this device is the complexity of the design, the creation of a capital structure to accommodate a wind generator and solar panels, which are also located at an angle that does not allow them to be used at maximum power at any time of daylight hours. All this bulky structure serves to accommodate a multispectral video surveillance system, which includes only long-range video cameras, a thermal imager and a radar station. Responsible is the ability to move the device to another area of the terrain.

The objective of the invention is to create a device capable of using video and radio detection means installed in such a way as to effectively use the inherent technical capabilities, for a long time, autonomously monitor the surface and underwater situation and in a timely manner detect, notify and issue characteristics and motion parameters about the detected objects, and if necessary, move the detection equipment to a new part of the water area.

The required technical result is achieved by the fact that the system for monitoring the surface and underwater situation allows you to keep the means of monitoring the surface situation at a given height and generate electricity using a rotating balloon with blades. The balloon is connected by a cable to the rotor of an electric generator that generates electricity to provide power to the video camera, thermal imager, radar station and other consumers, as well as to recharge the battery. The electric generator is located in the upper part of the radio-transparent housing, inside which there is a radar station (RLS) with a phased antenna array, which has two oppositely directed segments to ensure surveillance in the 360-degree field of view, and a video camera and a thermal imager are located below. In the lower part, the radio-transparent body is connected by a cable to an electric winch located in the body of the hydroacoustic detection device, made in the form of a semi-submerged cylinder. The cable provides mechanical retention of the structure at a certain height, a cable line is laid inside it to supply consumers with electricity from the generator at the radar, and the antenna of the data reception and transmission system is also located on the cable. The system for receiving and transmitting data over a radio channel transmits information about the detected objects to the control point. In the upper part of the hydroacoustic detection device, there are devices of the hydroacoustic detection system, systems for receiving and transmitting data, a computer complex, an air pump with a pressure sensor, an electric generator with a screw propeller rigidly fixed on the rotor, installed in the side cutout of the housing. In the lower part, the housing of the hydroacoustic detection device is connected to a pipe of smaller diameter, on which hydrophones of the hydroacoustic detection system are located. This pipe in the lower part has cutouts for water intake and is fixed to the ground with the help of a load, which is the battery.

The essence of the invention is illustrated by the drawing, where in Fig. 1 shows a system for monitoring surface and underwater conditions, consisting of:

1. - balloon with blades;

2. - balloon cable;

3. - electric generator rotor;

4. - electric generator for the radar;

5. - radio transparent body;

6. - radar station;

7. - radar cable;

8. - air pump with pressure sensor;

9. - video camera and thermal imager;

10. - electric winch;

11. - system for receiving and transmitting data;

12. - devices of the hydroacoustic detection system;

13. - housing of the hydroacoustic detection device;

14. - electric generator for the hydroacoustic detection system;

15. - generator rotor;

16 - screw propeller on the rotor of the electric generator;

17 - side cutout of the body;

18 - pipe of smaller diameter;

19 - hydrophones of the hydroacoustic detection system;

20 - cutouts in the lower part of the pipe;

21 - battery,

22 - computer complex.

A number of preparatory operations must be carried out before the start of operation of the surface and underwater surveillance system. To do this, in a given place in the water area, which requires constant monitoring of the surface and underwater conditions, the depth is determined and the hydroacoustic detection device (13) is set in such a way that the battery (21) in a sealed case is located on the ground, acting as a load. The positive, stable temperature of the water environment makes it possible to use the storage battery (21) regardless of temperature fluctuations in the atmosphere, to avoid loss of capacity at low temperatures and rapid wear at high temperatures. If necessary, based on the characteristics of the soil and hydrology, it is possible to increase the weight of the cargo through the use of special ballast. The lower part of the pipe of smaller diameter (18) with cutouts (20), made of polymeric materials and having a small weight, is attached to the load on the ground. The cross section of the pipe (18) is calculated and depends on the depth in the installation area and the power of the electric generator (14).

The structure is preliminarily assembled and installed: all instruments and devices are installed in the body of the hydroacoustic detection device (13), hydrophones of the hydroacoustic detection system (19) are installed, a pipe (18) is connected. Water, rising through the pipe (18), fills the free space and compresses the air inside the housing of the hydroacoustic detection device (13), which is made in the form of a hollow cylinder with a sealed upper part. The air supply in the internal volume creates a positive buoyancy to the body of the hydroacoustic detection device (13) and gives it a vertical position. To generate electricity using an electric generator (14), it is necessary that the water level inside the housing rises above the screw propeller (16) rigidly fixed on the rotor of the electric generator, located in the side cutout of the housing (17). With the help of an air pump with a pressure sensor (8), a reduced pressure is created in the internal space of the housing of the hydroacoustic detection device (13).

A radar cable (7) is connected to the electric winch (10), which ensures that the radio-transparent body (5) is raised to a height that allows surveillance equipment, primarily radar (6), to observe at a maximum range with high quality target recognition. The cable, having a cable line inside, also provides connection to the general power supply network for consumers: radar (6), video camera and thermal imager (9), electric winch (10), data reception and transmission system (11), hydroacoustic detection system devices (12), computer complex (22), hydrophones (19); power generation devices: an electric generator for the radar (4), an electric generator for the hydroacoustic detection system (14) and a storage battery (21).

The rotor (3) of the electric generator for the radar (4) on top of the radio-transparent housing (5) is connected by a cable (2) to a balloon with blades (1). The length of the balloon cable (2) is selected based on the strength and duration of air currents in the area and at the intended operating altitude. The volume of the balloon with blades (1) is selected based on the mass of the payload required for use at a given height.

The invention works as follows: under the influence of air currents, a balloon with blades (1) begins to spin. The torque from rotation through the balloon cable (2) is transmitted to the rotor (3) of the electric generator for the radar (4) and spins it.

The generated electricity ensures the operation of the radar (6), video camera and thermal imager (9), conducting all-round monitoring of the surface situation at the installation site of the system. When any objects are detected, the information is processed by the computer complex (22) and the notification and transmission of the characteristics and parameters of the movement of the object through the data reception and transmission system (11) to the control point is carried out.

Upon receipt of excess electricity generated by the electric generator for the radar (4), it is supplied to other consumers or accumulated in the battery (21). Consumers in the hydroacoustic detection device (13) receive this electricity via a cable from the radar (7). They also receive electricity from an electric generator for the hydroacoustic detection system (14), which generates electricity by rotating a screw propeller on the electric generator rotor (16), driven by a water flow due to pressure differences in different layers. The rotation of the helical propeller on the generator rotor (16) directs the movement of water through cutouts in the bottom of the pipe (20), where the water is under high pressure from the water column above it. Rising through the pipe (18), water enters the body of the hydroacoustic detection device (13) and squeezes water out of the device into a layer with a lower pressure through the side cutout of the body (17). After starting, the electric generator (14) is switched to the electricity generation mode to meet the needs of the system and replenish the electricity reserves in the battery (21).

Instruments of the hydroacoustic detection system (12) analyze the acoustic signals received from hydrophones (19), and when any objects are detected, the information is processed by the computer complex (22), notification, and the characteristics and parameters of the object are transmitted through the data reception and transmission system (11 ) to the control point.

Excess electricity generated by the electric generator for the hydroacoustic detection system (14) is also accumulated in the storage battery (21) and is consumed at the moments of maximum consumption at low generation.

The surface and underwater surveillance system allows continuous air surveillance of large areas of water surface, effectively using the inherent technical capabilities, allows you to detect surface and underwater targets, giving accurate coordinates, especially when using several interconnected systems, solve the problems of protecting extended sea plots. The system is able to autonomously monitor the surface and underwater situation and notify in a timely manner about detected objects, be operated for a long time, due to the ability to replenish electricity during operation.

Claims (1)

Surface and underwater surveillance system containing a video camera, a thermal imager and a radar station, a system for receiving and transmitting data via a radio channel, a wind generator and a battery, characterized in that the radar station is located in a radio-transparent housing and is held at a given height using a rotating balloon having blades, in the upper part of the radio-transparent housing there is an electric generator, to the rotor of which a cable from the balloon is attached, in the lower part of the radio-transparent housing is connected by a cable to an electric winch located in the housing of the hydroacoustic detection device, made in the form of a cylinder semi-submerged in water, where the system devices are located in the upper part hydroacoustic detection, systems for receiving and transmitting data, a computer complex, an air pump with a pressure sensor, an electric generator with a screw propeller rigidly fixed on the rotor, installed in the side cutout of the housing, the lower part of the housing with connected to a pipe of smaller diameter, hydrophones of the hydroacoustic detection system are located on it, the pipe has cutouts and is fixed on the ground with the help of a load, which is the battery.

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