A laser-powered ice-penetrating communications payload delivery vehicle for sub-ice submarine missions enables under-ice operations to exchange information with terrestrial facilities or satellite networks with communications methods otherwise blocked by an ice cap. The vehicle comprises an electronics bay, a payload bay, optics bay, and a melt optic with laser. The system and method of establishing communication where the vehicle, tethered to a sub-ice vessel, is released. The vehicle ascends to the bottom of an ice sheet and uses a laser to melt the ice, forming a borehole through which the vehicle continues to ascend. When buoyancy no longer advances the vehicle beyond sea level, the vehicle continues to melt a conical opening through the ice until unobstructed atmosphere is reached and bi-directional communication is established. Where the melting capacity cannot reach ice to continue melting, the vehicle mechanically advances itself toward the surface to establish high bandwidth, bi-directional communication.


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    Title :

    Method of Establishing Communication for Sub-Ice Submarine Missions between a Sub-Ice Vessel and a Terrestrial Facility using a Laser-Powered Ice-Penetrating Communications Delivery Vehicle


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2020-05-07


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    B63C LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS , Zuwasserlassen, Trockenstellen, Docken oder Bergen von Schiffen / B63G OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS , Angriffs- oder Verteidigungsanordnungen auf Schiffen




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