TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of networks, and more particularly, to underwater communications networks and related methods.

BACKGROUND

A communications network is a group of nodes interconnected by links that are used to exchange messages between the nodes. The links may use a variety of technologies based on the methodologies of circuit switching, message switching, or packet switching, to pass messages and signals.

One type of network is a seafloor network. A seafloor network is typically used by industry, government and academia to observe and record measurements in the environment and transmit data over long distances. Traditional deployments of seafloor networks may be relatively expensive and typically involve manual connections on the surface and lowering the cable and equipment to the seafloor.

Relatively large cable ships are typically used along with a corresponding crew for cable installation operations. Both the ships and crew may be exposed to relatively harsh environmental conditions during deployments and installation operations.

PCT Application Publication No. WO 2016/200386 discloses a self-deploying and self-healing subsea network that includes one or more homing vehicles, one or more data repeaters, and one or more independent guidable homing systems configured to assist the homing vehicles in localization of and docking with the data repeaters. Data repeaters are deployed in a body of water and, at a predetermined time, a homing vehicle is released from a first data repeater and instructed to transit to and dock with a predetermined second data repeater. After docking, a network cable is operatively placed into communication between the first data repeater and the second data repeater.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,831,393 to Jung is directed to an unmanned underwater vehicle and device for connection of an optical waveguide cable to an unmanned underwater vehicle. More particularly, Jung discloses unmanned underwater vehicles that can be controlled from a carrier platform by an optical waveguide cable. The optical waveguide cable is to be connected to the underwater vehicle via a connecting device. The connecting device includes a connecting cable and connecting elements at the ends of the connecting cable for an optical waveguide cable at one end and for an unmanned underwater vehicle at the other end.

SUMMARY

A docking system may include a first device and a second device moveable relative to the first device. The first device may include a docking station, a first optical transceiver, and a first controller configured to operate the first optical transceiver to receive an optical beacon signal, and generate and transmit an optical guidance data signal based on the optical beacon signal. The second device may include a propulsion system, and a second optical transceiver configured to transmit the optical beacon signal toward the first optical transceiver and receive the optical guidance data signal from the first optical transceiver. The second device may also include a second controller configured to operate the propulsion system based upon the optical guidance data signal to dock the second device to the docking station of the first device.

The first controller may be configured to determine at least one of a range, a bearing, a velocity, a roll, and a pitch of the second device and generate the optical guidance data signal based thereon, for example. The second device may include a long-range navigation device coupled to the second controller.

The second controller may be configured to operate the propulsion system based upon the long-range navigation device. The long-range navigation device may include an inertial navigation system (INS), for example.

At least one of the first and second devices may include an optical cable storage device. The first and second optical transceivers may include first and second laser transceivers. The first and second laser transceivers may include first and second vertical cavity surface emitting laser transceivers, for example.

The second device may include an underwater vehicle. The second device may include a space vehicle. The second device may include a terrestrial vehicle, for example. The second device may include an airborne vehicle.

A method aspect is directed to a method of docking a second device moveable relative to a first device. The method may include using a first controller of the first device to operate a first optical transceiver of the first device to receive an optical beacon signal, and generate and transmit an optical guidance data signal based on the optical beacon signal. The method may also include using a second controller of the second device to cooperate with a second optical transceiver of the second device to transmit the optical beacon signal toward the first optical transceiver and receive the optical guidance data signal from the first optical transceiver, and operate a propulsion system of the second device based upon the optical guidance data signal to dock the second device to a docking station of the first device.

