Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An A-sized unmanned underwater vehicle comprising:
- a body housing a controller;
a vector thruster attached to the body, in communication with the controller, and configured to propel the body;
at least one deployable wing structure attached to the body, in communication with the controller, and configured to be deployed to allow the unmanned underwater vehicle to traverse by gliding as the unmanned underwater vehicle ascends and descends;
a center-of-mass shifter located within the body, in communication with the controller, and configured to shift a center-of-mass of the vehicle to allow the unmanned underwater vehicle to pitch up and pitch down; and
one of a multi-stage buoyancy control system within the body and configured to adjust an apparent displacement of the unmanned underwater vehicle and an expandable outer shell configured to adjust an apparent displacement and therefore a buoyancy of the unmanned underwater vehicle.
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Abstract
An hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle comprises a body housing a controller; a vector thruster for propelling the body; deployable wings allowing the unmanned underwater vehicle to traverse by gliding as the unmanned underwater vehicle ascends and descends; a center-of-mass shifter for shifting a center-of-mass of the vehicle to allow the unmanned underwater vehicle to pitch up and pitch down; and one of a multi-stage buoyancy control system within the body and configured to adjust an apparent displacement of the unmanned underwater vehicle and an expandable outer shell configured to adjust an apparent displacement and therefore a buoyancy of the unmanned underwater vehicle.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An A-sized unmanned underwater vehicle comprising:
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a body housing a controller; a vector thruster attached to the body, in communication with the controller, and configured to propel the body; at least one deployable wing structure attached to the body, in communication with the controller, and configured to be deployed to allow the unmanned underwater vehicle to traverse by gliding as the unmanned underwater vehicle ascends and descends; a center-of-mass shifter located within the body, in communication with the controller, and configured to shift a center-of-mass of the vehicle to allow the unmanned underwater vehicle to pitch up and pitch down; and one of a multi-stage buoyancy control system within the body and configured to adjust an apparent displacement of the unmanned underwater vehicle and an expandable outer shell configured to adjust an apparent displacement and therefore a buoyancy of the unmanned underwater vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for harvesting ambient underwater pressure for use in a remote vehicle having a pressure capture chamber and a capture and re-direct valve, the method comprising:
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allowing pressurized ocean water to flow through the capture and re-direct valve and drive fluid into the pressure capture vessel to pressurize the pressure capture vessel by filling the pressure capture vessel; and using pressure stored in the pressure capture vessel to drive a propulsion jet system. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for harvesting ambient underwater pressure for use in a remote vehicle having a pressure capture vessel and a capture and re-direct valve, the method comprising:
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allowing pressurized ocean water to flow through the capture and re-direct valve and drive fluid into the pressure capture vessel to pressurize the pressure capture vessel by filling the pressure capture vessel; and releasing pressurized fluid from the pressure capture vessel to push fluid through a power generator to convert stored pressurized fluid to electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for harvesting ambient underwater pressure for use in a remote vehicle having a pressure capture chamber and a capture and re-direct valve, the method comprising:
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allowing pressurized ocean water to flow through the capture and re-direct valve and drive fluid into the pressure capture vessel to pressurize the pressure capture vessel by filling the pressure capture vessel; and using pressure stored in the pressure capture vessel to drive fluid from an internal reservoir of the autonomous underwater vehicle to an external bladder of the autonomous underwater vehicle to increase an apparent displacement and a buoyancy of the autonomous underwater vehicle.
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16. A system for harvesting ambient underwater pressure for use in a remote vehicle, the system comprising:
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a fluid reservoir; a pressure capture vessel connected to the fluid reservoir; and a capture and re-direct valve configured to allow pressurized ocean water to flow therethrough and drive a fluid from the fluid reservoir into the pressure capture vessel to pressurize the pressure capture vessel by filling the pressure capture vessel, wherein pressurized fluid can be released from the pressure capture vessel to perform work for the autonomous underwater vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An unmanned underwater vehicle that is propelled by buoyancy and achieves forward motion using wings for lift, the unmanned underwater vehicle having a size and form factor equivalent to a standardized sonobuoy and being configured for rapid air deployment and long endurance.
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21. A method for operating an unmanned underwater vehicle, the method comprising:
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increasing a relative buoyancy of an unmanned underwater vehicle under servo control and simultaneously shifting a center of mass of the unmanned underwater vehicle to cause at least a portion of the unmanned under water vehicle to rise above a water surface and remain above the water for a predetermined amount of time in a predetermined position using a minimal amount of stored energy; and while surfaced, performing tasks that can only be done on the surface, including one or more of RF communications, electro-optical image capture, air temperature measurements, wind measurements, determination of location using GPS or other celestial based location method. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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- 25. A hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle comprising an onboard control computer, a buoyancy system, wings, and propulsion thrusters, the vehicle being able to optimize its expenditure of energy using available combined hybrid modes to minimize propulsion energy for tasks such as staying on the surface, gliding at slow speeds using negative and positive buoyancy changes and wings for lift, and efficiently utilizing traditional propulsion thrusters when needed.
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31. An unmanned underwater vehicle configured to perform functions traditionally supported by sonobuoys and to change or hold its position using a propulsion system, the unmanned underwater vehicle comprising a closed-loop onboard controller configured to control the heading and speed of the propulsion system to move the vehicle to commanded or stored locations.
- 32. An unmanned underwater vehicle comprising an expandable cylindrical body configured to change a buoyancy and a center of gravity of the vehicle, the expandable cylindrical body being capable of withstanding a predetermined range of external hydrodynamic pressures of surrounding water, and being capable of changing a center of gravity of the vehicle and a buoyancy of the vehicle to change a displaced volume of water or apparent internal density of the vehicle, thereby controlling buoyancy and center of gravity of the vehicle.
- 36. A hybrid unmanned underwater vehicle comprising an expandable body with a propulsion section, wherein portion of the expandable body, such as the propulsion section, can be compressed to decrease the vehicle'"'"'s external displacement volume, and can be expanded from the body to increase the vehicle'"'"'s external displacement.
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40. A method for facilitating communications between an unmanned underwater vehicle and a remote control site, the method comprising expanding a body of the vehicle to establish and maintain positive buoyancy for the vehicle;
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shifting a center of mass of the vehicle so that a nose or a tail of a cylindrical body of the vehicle is held above a surface of the water without the addition of electro-motive force; and remaining in the shifted and positively buoyant position of the vehicle so that radio communications, above-the-water electro-optics, and other subsystems needing to be above the surface to operate efficiently, can perform tasks. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A large displacement unmanned underwater vehicle including one or more sensors, a propulsion system, and a controller for controlling a mission of the vehicle, and comprising:
a variable buoyancy system including a first variable buoyancy engine located toward a bow of the vehicle and a second variable buoyancy engine located toward a stern of the vehicle, the variable buoyancy system being configured to control apparent displacement of the vehicle to actively control vehicle buoyancy to maintain neutral buoyancy and reduce ballast and trim errors to reduce propulsion power requirements. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Specification