MULTI-ROLE UNMANNED VEHICLE SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. An unmanned vehicle for operating, in the air, on the surface of water, and below the surface of water, the unmanned vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body wherein at least a portion of the vehicle body comprises at least one enclosed hull that defines at least one enclosed interior compartment capable of pressurization;
a propulsion system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to propel the unmanned vehicle;
a ballast system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary buoyancy of the unmanned vehicle;
a center of gravity system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary a center of gravity of the unmanned vehicle;
a pressurization system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary a pressure within the at least one enclosed interior compartment;
at least one control surface system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to maneuver the unmanned vehicle;
a navigation control system carried by the vehicle body to control the speed and direction of travel of the unmanned vehicle;
an on board master control system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to execute local control over operation of the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, and the navigation control system; and
at least one power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, the navigation control system, and the on board master control system;
wherein the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, the navigation control system, and the on board control system are independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned vehicle may include a vehicle body that comprises an enclosed hull. The unmanned vehicle may include a propulsion, a ballast control system, a center of gravity system, a pressurization system, a control surface system, a navigation control system, and an on board master control system. The on board master control system may execute local control over operation of the various systems of the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle may also include a power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the various systems. The various systems of the unmanned vehicle may be independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water.
40 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An unmanned vehicle for operating, in the air, on the surface of water, and below the surface of water, the unmanned vehicle comprising:
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a vehicle body wherein at least a portion of the vehicle body comprises at least one enclosed hull that defines at least one enclosed interior compartment capable of pressurization; a propulsion system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to propel the unmanned vehicle; a ballast system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary buoyancy of the unmanned vehicle; a center of gravity system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary a center of gravity of the unmanned vehicle; a pressurization system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary a pressure within the at least one enclosed interior compartment; at least one control surface system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to maneuver the unmanned vehicle; a navigation control system carried by the vehicle body to control the speed and direction of travel of the unmanned vehicle; an on board master control system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to execute local control over operation of the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, and the navigation control system; and at least one power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, the navigation control system, and the on board master control system; wherein the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, the navigation control system, and the on board control system are independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An unmanned vehicle system for operating an unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of water, and below the surface of water, the unmanned vehicle system comprising:
an unmanned vehicle comprising; a vehicle body wherein at least a portion of the vehicle body comprises at least one enclosed hull that defines at least one enclosed interior compartment capable of pressurization, wherein the vehicle body has an outer configuration having a general appearance of an aerohydrodynamic wing, wherein the vehicle body includes a pair of opposing sponsons with a center wing, and wherein the sponsons have a stepped hull design; and
wherein the stepped hull design includes a medially positioned tunnel and a medially positioned wing,a propulsion system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to propel the unmanned vehicle, a ballast system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary buoyancy of the unmanned vehicle, a center of gravity system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary a center of gravity of the unmanned vehicle, a pressurization system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to vary a pressure within the at least one enclosed interior compartment, at least one control surface system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to maneuver the unmanned vehicle, a navigation control system carried by the vehicle body to control the speed and direction of travel of the unmanned vehicle, an on board master control system carried by a portion of the vehicle body to execute local control over operation of the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, and the navigation control system, and at least one power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, the navigation control system, and the on board master control system; and an off board control system to interface with the onboard master control system to execute remote control over operation of the unmanned vehicle based on mission objectives defined external to the on board master control system; wherein the propulsion system, the ballast system, the center of gravity system, the pressurization system, the at least one control surface system, the navigation control system, and the on board control system are independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
Specification