Launch and recovery is one of the highest risk operations undertaken in the application of towed or autonomous underwater vehicles. The primary function of an autonomous launch and recovery system is to enable an unmanned vehicle and its payloads to be brought aboard a host ship safely, efficiently, and without damage.
Kraken’s Autonomous Launch and Recovery System (ALARS) and intelligent Tentacle Winch™ are designed for modular integration onto manned and unmanned surface vessels, with rapid mobilization on vessels of opportunity. They increase the operational envelope while removing humans out of harm’s way through a fully unmanned launch and recovery system.
Tentacle Winch™ uses an integrated motion reference unit and intelligent control algorithms to measure both the surface vessel and vehicle motions to perform safe and effective deployment and recovery in harsh environments up to sea state 5 at a speed of 6 knots.
The ALARS is constructed of non-welded aluminum for high strength, low weight, and low magnetic signature. These properties are important for small host vehicles such as Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and mine countermeasures (MCM) vessels.
The Tentacle Winch™ is a fully electric winch system that offers significant benefits compared to a hydraulic system in terms of system response and repeatability of winch motions, as well as environmental and efficiency benefits compared to similar hydraulic winches.
Advanced control features come standard on each winch and include:
- Active Terrain Following (ATF) functionality when coupled with Kraken’s KATFISH™ allows the Mission Control Computer to adjust cable scope to assist the tow vehicle in active terrain following and obstacle avoidance.
- Auto Tension (AT) keeps a constant specified tension on the tow cable allowing the Tentacle Winch® to hold the vehicle in the docking head during L&R phase without an additional capture mechanism.
- Auto Render (AR) automatically pays out cable if the cable load exceeds a pre-set threshold.
The entire launch and recovery process of the vehicle is continuously monitored through sensors and video link. Video streaming of the docking head and winch are provided to ensure that all functions are operating within acceptable parameters. Furthermore, the ALARS and Tentacle Winch® leverages the dynamic motion compensation capability to provide smooth, safe, and robust launch and recovery for remote operations.
These video feeds work in parallel with the Tentacle Winch’s intelligent Active Motion Compensation system which compensates for the motion of the vessel and the A-frame during launch and recovery procedures.
This system mitigates risk and human error during high sea-states, wave action, and dynamic vessel movements by continuously monitoring vessel motion, using a predictive controller to vary the tension on the tow cable ensuring safe and secure launch and recovery.
The A-frame is driven with hydraulic cylinders powered by a dedicated marine hydraulic power unit. The cylinders are trunnion mounted to better withstand shock. The A-frame has three positions, stow, launch and recovery, and tow. The docking head is controlled in pitch by pantograph arms and controlled in roll by dampers.
- LAR operations up to Sea State 5
LAR operation at up to 6 knots
Advanced winch control
Dynamic motion compensation
Fully electric winch
Live video feed monitoring
Models/Accessories/Software
ALARS
An autonomous launch and recovery system. It works seamlessly with KATFISH™ to enable fully unmanned operations. Removing humans out of harm’s ways in LARS operations. Rated up to Sea State 5.
Tentacle Winch™
Tentacle Winch™ uses an integrated motion reference unit and intelligent control algorithms to measure both the surface vessel and vehicle motions to perform safe and effective deployment and recovery in harsh environments up to a sea state 5 at a speed of 6 knots.
KATVIEW
Real-time SAS survey monitoring and control interface for KATFISH™ and Tentacle Winch™
Applications
Defence Applications
- Mine countermeasures – MCM
- Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance – ISR
Offshore Oil and Gas
- Subsea infrastructure inspection
- Seabed mapping – Nadir Gap filling technology
- Environmental monitoring
Offshore Wind
- Subsea infrastructure inspection
- Seabed mapping
- Environmental monitoring
Commercial Survey
- Underwater archaeology and ecosystem research
- Port infrastructure inspection
- Oceanographic Surveys
- Environmental Monitoring
Digital Twin
- Gather data and compare against original specifications to ensure reliability
- Develop better maintenance schedules
- Ship hull scanning and inspection
Videos
Expertise
Kraken’s Handling Systems team is based in Nova Scotia and has over 200 years of collective experience in the design and development of advanced launch and recovery systems. The core of the team joined from Rolls-Royce Naval Marine Canada where they developed advanced launch and recovery systems used by a wide variety of military, commercial and ocean science customers.
