TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO 

 DEEP APPLICATIONS OF UNMANNED SYSTEMS 



H. D. Smith 



CURV Program Manager 



Ocean Technology Department 



Naval Undersea Research & Development Center 



ABSTRACT 



The Naval Undersea Research & Development Center, Pasadena 

 Laboratory's Cable -controlled Unmanned Research Vehicle (CURV) 

 Systems have conducted small-object recovery and other imderwater 

 work tasks to 2, 500 -foot depths. A 7, 000 -foot CURV capability will be 

 established in FY 70. The CURV capability will be established in FY 70, 

 The CURV capability is desired to depths of 20,000 feet. CURV vehicles, 

 main control cable and surface support equipment all require develop- 

 ment to enable 20,000-foot operations. Most problems are resolvable 

 within the state-of-the-art, but there are two technical barriers to be 

 overcome: (1) control cable development including transmission of ade- 

 quate TV and control signals over a cable of acceptable size and weight, 

 and techniques for cable support, handling, and maneuvering; and (2) 

 vehicle bottom navigation. Approaches to overcoming these barriers 

 such as the investigation of TV and control transmission techniques that 

 minimize the size and weight of the cable, are discussed. 



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