A cocoon-based shipboard launch and recovery system for large autonomous underwater vehicles

The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) has completed testing and integration of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) launch and recovery system (LRS). The paper describes the design goals and initial field-test results for a unique method of launch and recovery for large vehicle systems (i.e., 10,000 pound/28-foot length). Designed and fabricated by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego for NAVOCEANO's Seahorse class vehicles, the LRS is optimized for operation from high-freeboard T-AGS PATHFINDER class survey vessels and employs a modified vehicle-in-cocoon deployment and recovery technique. Launch and recovery operations are conducted without small boat assistance and provide a high margin of safety to personnel and vehicle systems.