A seakeeping study on the autonomous sustainment cargo container delivery system

Abstract

An increasing emphasis has recently been placed with fighting non-national and irregular forces. Single entity attacks on shipping and transportation units have replaced attacks on fortified or established military positions. The supply chain from sea to shore has become the target of opportunity to disrupt the Global War on Terrorism and put further lives in danger. Autonomous containers will play an essential role to deliver logistical supplies to waterborne littoral vessels in order to maintain station and complete military operations all while eliminating the threat to human life as the containers will be programmed to deliver supplies to a specified local in a reasonable timetable; vessels such as Riverine Warfare patrol craft, Special Operations craft and Coast Guard search and rescue boats and their crews. The research to be conducted will focus on the seakeeping characteristics of an autonomous sustainment cargo container and the feasibility of its deployment. Established geometric data will be used along with changing loading characteristics and ride effects. The in depth analysis will be focused on the responses of the container in varying sea conditions and at varying loads to see if further refinement of the design or policies concerning loading and deployment may be required.