Design of the Mechanism for the Multi-USV Launch and Recovery System

In recent years, there has been significant growth in the global research and development of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). In practical applications, the successful deployment and retrieval of USVs are essential for the efficient execution of their missions. This paper presents the design of an extendable Launch and Recovery System (L&R System) that allows a mother ship to launch and recover multiple USVs. The system's configuration has been optimized, and its performance has been rigorously validated. To minimize interference between the mother ship and the docking brackets during USV deployment, we conducted a hydrodynamic analysis based on the positioning of the docking brackets. We also developed an Attitude Control Mechanism (ACM) capable of transitioning the docking brackets through four primary deployment postures. This innovation significantly enhances the smooth retrieval of multiple USVs.