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Patent Filed for Underwater GPS
Matthew Sparkes writes "GPS doesn't work underwater, as the signal cannot reach the satellite from a submersible, but researchers have now patented an add-on to the system that could provide GPS navigation for submarines. A base station is tethered to the sea bed at a known depth and GPS location. A submersible anywhere in the area sends out a sonar pulse to which the base station replies with a signal, giving a GPS position and depth as well as the bearing angle from which the submersible's request arrived. The submersible then uses its own depth, which is easily measured, plus the round trip pulse time and the bearing angle sent by the base, to calculate its own position."
Just another way to bombard marine life with Sonar. Can we please get out of this mentality that convinces us that using active sonar all day is a great idea?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Seems to me that this is the kind of unique idea that deserves a patent.
Unlike most software patents.
Not only can the device can pick up the reflected beam from the submarine, but so could anyone else in the area. This would NEVER be used for US submarines and I'd bet no US submarine would go anywhere near one of these things. I was on submarines for 10 years and we never used active sonar. GPS was used when the mast can be raised as a backup and for verification to ensure all other systems are still agreeing with each other but nothing else. In fact, I don't think we ever used our radar either.
Getting off topic here but...
One of my jobs was a "phone talker" on the bridge during surface transits (dictate communications back and forth between the between the officer of the deck to the control room) and I remember setting up a regular old store bought portable radar system up there just like the fishing boats used. Another thing we did not do was talk to or even acknowledge other boats in the area that tried talking to us over the VHF radio. We were in plain sight of a cruise ship or even yachts. Our off the shelf radar is spinning around and we are listening to people try to talk to us on the radio. Another interesting tidbit, US submarines do not have the hull number or name painted on the side. In the PR photos they might but they are removed shortly after that. Most in port just use signs that hang from the sail. We had to do a medical emergency personal transfer at sea once. Dude left the ship in civilian clothes with bogus orders that contained nothing that referenced what submarine he was just plucked from.
For reference, I was not part of the Sonar or the Nav ET division that ran the radar and the time frame I was on subs ended about 10 years ago so maybe things have changed since then.