UNMANNED SUBMERSIBLE VEHICLES AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME IN A BODY OF LIQUID
First Claim
1. An unmanned submersible vehicle for use in a body of liquid having a top surface and in air overlying the top surface, the vehicle comprising:
- a hull having first and second opposed ends, the hull including a first hull portion adjacent the first end and a second hull portion adjacent the second end;
an integral antenna disposed within the first hull portion; and
an antenna positioning system configured to reorient the hull from a transit position to a signal position, wherein, when the hull is in the signal position;
the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the second hull portion a greater vertical distance than when the hull is in the transit position;
the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the top surface and in the air while at least the second hull portion remains submerged in the body of liquid; and
the antenna is operative to emit signals through the air above the top surface and/or to receive signals through the air above the top surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned submersible vehicle for use in a body of liquid having a top surface and in air overlying the top surface includes a hull, an integral antenna, and an antenna positioning system. The hull has first and second opposed ends. The hull includes a first hull portion adjacent the first end and a second hull portion adjacent the second end. The antenna is disposed within the first hull portion and/or is mounted on the first hull portion. The antenna positioning system is configured to reorient the hull from a transit position to a signal position. When the hull is in the signal position: the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the second hull portion a greater vertical distance than when the hull is in the transit position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the top surface and in the air while at least the second hull portion remains submerged in the body of liquid; and the antenna is operative to emit signals through the air above the top surface and/or to receive signals through the air above the top surface.
37 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An unmanned submersible vehicle for use in a body of liquid having a top surface and in air overlying the top surface, the vehicle comprising:
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a hull having first and second opposed ends, the hull including a first hull portion adjacent the first end and a second hull portion adjacent the second end; an integral antenna disposed within the first hull portion; and an antenna positioning system configured to reorient the hull from a transit position to a signal position, wherein, when the hull is in the signal position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the second hull portion a greater vertical distance than when the hull is in the transit position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the top surface and in the air while at least the second hull portion remains submerged in the body of liquid; and the antenna is operative to emit signals through the air above the top surface and/or to receive signals through the air above the top surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 25, 26, 27)
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11. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
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14. A communications system for use in a body of liquid having a top surface and in air overlying the top surface, the communications system comprising:
a plurality of unmanned submersible vehicles adapted to be distributed in the body of liquid, each of the vehicles including; a hull having first and second opposed ends, the hull including a first hull portion adjacent the first end and a second hull portion adjacent the second end; an integral antenna disposed within the first hull portion; an antenna positioning system configured to reorient the hull from a transit position to a signal position, wherein, when the hull is in the signal position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the second hull portion a greater vertical distance than when the hull is in the transit position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the top surface and in the air while at least the second hull portion remains submerged in the body of liquid; and the antenna is operative to emit signals through the air above the top surface and/or to receive signals through the air above the top surface; and a communications device operably connected to the antenna to generate and/or receive and process signals propagated through the air over the top surface.
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15. A method for operating an unmanned submersible vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing an unmanned submersible vehicle including; a hull having first and second opposed ends, the hull including a first hull portion adjacent the first end and a second hull portion adjacent the second end; an integral antenna disposed within the first hull portion; an antenna positioning system configured to reorient the hull from a transit position to a signal position; and using the antenna positioning system, reorienting the hull from a transit position to a signal position, wherein, when the hull is in the signal position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the second hull portion a greater vertical distance than when the hull is in the transit position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the top surface and in the air while at least the second hull portion remains submerged in the body of liquid; and the antenna is operative to emit signals through the air above the top surface and/or to receive signals through the air above the top surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification