Protecting Critical Data on Unmanned Underwater Platforms

Emerging mission requirements from global defense forces are driving new programs and applications for Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) platforms. Like their airborne counterparts, UUVs are ideal for deploying Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission payloads. To speed the development of these autonomous vehicles, system designers are turning to small form factor (SFF) Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) technologies previously proven in Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) deployments. These low-power SFF subsystems, including miniature network switches and mission computers, are ideal for use in UUVs for which any additional weight or power consumption can have significant detrimental effects on mission distance and duration. By selecting proven rugged COTS solutions, already tested and qualified to the extreme demands of MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461, MIL-STD-704 and/ or RTCA/DO-160G standards for environmental, power, and EMI compliance, UUV system developers have found that they can greatly accelerate their program integration and reduce overall risk.