Patent 7230881 was granted and assigned to Lockheed Martin on June, 2007 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A platform with a sensor is for coupling to a submarine or other underwater vehicle and for sending data about the seascape to the submarine. In an embodiment, the platform is coupled to the submarine via a cable that has communication lines in it. The sensor may be attached to the platform via a mast. In an embodiment, the platform has a control surface, an anti-collision sensor, and a ballast. The platform allows a submarine to survey the seascape before rising to periscope depth.