SEMI-AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLE

• US 20130204464A1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Oceaneering International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: David C. Mauck, David Weaver, John Linn, Thomas Tolman
• Inventors: MAUCK, David C., LINN, John, WEAVER, David, TOLMAN, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/753,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204464A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/02 Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals A01K15/04 takes precedence; Electric shock devices circuits therefor H03K3/537; Toys specially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 79/02 by electrocution
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/005 remotely controlled
• 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: B63H 21/21 Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels

Abstract

A semi-autonomous underwater vehicle has (a) a hull; (b) one or more thruster motors; (c) a preprogrammed controller for controlling the motors and/or separate steering components to carry out a plurality of different maneuvers; and (d) a wireless signal receiver for providing instructions to the controller.

Claims

1. A semi-autonomous underwater vehicle comprising:

(a) a hull;

(b) one or more thruster motors;

(c) a preprogrammed controller for controlling the motors and the steering components to carry out a plurality of different pre-programmed maneuvers; and

(d) a wireless signal receiver for providing instructions to the controller.

2. The semi-autonomous underwater vehicle of claim 1 wherein the thruster motors provide the vehicle with the ability to steer the vehicle left, right, up and down.

3. The semi-autonomous underwater vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle further comprises one or more function providers chosen from the list of function providers consisting of lights, transducers and vibrators.

4. The semi-autonomous underwater vehicle of claim 3 wherein the function providers are activated and deactivated pursuant to a preprogrammed schedule.

5. The semi-autonomous underwater vehicle of claim 1 wherein the wireless signal receiver is adapted to accept acoustic modem/pulse signals while the vehicle is underwater.