Detachable drone for monitoring a moving vessel

• US 10,424,138 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Florence, Christopher R., Moore, Jordan T., Sherk, Walker L., Yang, Pu
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Ana D
• Application Number:
  US15/360,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20180232969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/00 Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for fire-fighting in ships A62C3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/10 using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/30 for diagnosing, testing or predicting the integrity or performance of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 7/30 Floatable safes safes in general E05G
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/001 Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0065 Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/55 for life-saving or rescue operations; for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/31 generated by photovoltaics
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/82 Airborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

Provided are techniques for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel. An event is identified that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is detached from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is moved to a predetermined location. A beacon based on beacon data is transmitted from the detachable drone. In response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, data collected from monitoring the moving vessel is delivered.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel, comprising:

capturing data about the moving vessel that includes velocity of the moving vessel, air pressure in the moving vessel, and readings from one or more sensors of the moving vessel;

identifying an event that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel based on analysis of the captured data, wherein the event comprises a change in at least one of the velocity of the moving vessel, the air pressure in the moving vessel, and the readings from the one or more sensors of the moving vessel;

detaching the detachable drone from the moving vessel;

moving the detachable drone to a predetermined location;

transmitting a beacon based on beacon data from the detachable drone; and

in response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, delivering data collected from monitoring the moving vessel.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

while monitoring the moving vessel, storing the captured data.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises floating up to a surface of water in response to the detachable drone detaching under water.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises gliding down to a surface of solid ground in response to the detachable drone detaching mid-air.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the detachable drone comprises a radio signal reflecting material to assist in locating the detachable drone.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the detachable drone comprises a solar powered cell.

7. A computer program product for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by at least one processor to perform:

capturing data about the moving vessel that includes velocity of the moving vessel, air pressure in the moving vessel, and readings from one or more sensors of the moving vessel;

identifying an event that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel based on analysis of the captured data, wherein the event comprises a change in at least one of the velocity of the moving vessel, the air pressure in the moving vessel, and the readings from the one or more sensors of the moving vessel;

detaching the detachable drone from the moving vessel;

moving the detachable drone to a predetermined location;

transmitting a beacon based on beacon data from the detachable drone; and

in response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, delivering data collected from monitoring the moving vessel.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program code is executable by the at least one processor to perform:

while monitoring the moving vessel,

storing the captured data.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises floating up to a surface of water in response to the detachable drone detaching under water.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises gliding down to a surface of solid ground in response to the detachable drone detaching mid-air.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the detachable drone comprises a radio signal reflecting material to assist in locating the detachable drone.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the detachable drone comprises a solar powered cell.

13. A computer system for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel, comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage mediums; and

program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable, tangible storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to perform operations comprising;

capturing data about the moving vessel that includes velocity of the moving vessel, air pressure in the moving vessel, and readings from one or more sensors of the moving vessel;

identifying an event that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel based on analysis of the captured data, wherein the event comprises a change in at least one of the velocity of the moving vessel, the air pressure in the moving vessel, and the readings from the one or more sensors of the moving vessel;

detaching the detachable drone from the moving vessel;

moving the detachable drone to a predetermined location;

transmitting a beacon based on beacon data from the detachable drone; and

in response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, delivering data collected from monitoring the moving vessel.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

while monitoring the moving vessel,

storing the captured data.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises floating up to a surface of water in response to the detachable drone detaching under water.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein moving the detachable drone to the predetermined location comprises gliding down to a surface of solid ground in response to the detachable drone detaching mid-air.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the detachable drone comprises a radio signal reflecting material to assist in locating the detachable drone.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the detachable drone comprises a solar powered cell.