Hull Cleaning Robot
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A hull cleaning robot, comprising:
- a robot body; and
at least one drive module within the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull, the at least one drive module comprising at least one drive element configured to hold the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull;
wherein the at least one drive element facilitates at least one cleaning function for cleaning the hull of a vessel.
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Abstract
A hull cleaning robot, in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, includes a robot body and a drive module within the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull. The drive module includes a drive element for holding the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull. The drive element includes a cleaning function for cleaning the hull of a vessel.
17 Citations
83 Claims
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1. A hull cleaning robot, comprising:
a robot body; and at least one drive module within the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull, the at least one drive module comprising at least one drive element configured to hold the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull; wherein the at least one drive element facilitates at least one cleaning function for cleaning the hull of a vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of cleaning a hull of a vessel, comprising:
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positioning a robot about the hull of the vessel; maneuvering the robot about the hull using a drive module within the robot; and operating the drive module in a manner to effectuate cleaning of the hull, wherein the drive module provides a cleaning function. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A hull cleaning robot, comprising:
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a robot body; and at least one drive module within the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull, the at least one drive module comprising; at least one drive element configured to hold the robot on the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull, and to facilitate locomotion; and at least one drive element configured to clean the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull, wherein the drive elements rotate in at least one of a different direction and a different speed relative to one another.
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22. A hull robot comprising:
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a robot body; one or more ports formed in the robot body for receiving passing fluid; and one or more fluid conduits in fluid communication with the one or more ports, wherein the fluid conduits are configured to redirect the passing fluid received through the ports toward the hull. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A hull robot comprising:
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a suction fixation system operable to help adhere the hull robot to a hull of a vessel, the suction fixation system comprising; a deployable skirt configured to be deployed against a vessel hull to create at least a partial seal against the hull; and a negative pressure activator operable to create a low pressure area within an area defined by the skirt, wherein a suction effect is created between the robot and the full. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A hull cleaning robot, comprising:
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a robot body; at least one drive module supported by the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull of a vessel, the at least one drive module comprising at least one drive element configured to at least partially secure the robot to the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull; and an ultrasonic cleaning element configured to oscillate relative to the hull at ultrasonic frequencies as the robot maneuvers about the hull to provide a cleaning function for cleaning the hull of a vessel. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method of cleaning a hull of a vessel, comprising:
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operating a vessel within a fluid so as to generate a fluid flow relative to a hull of the vessel;
securing a hull robot about the hull of the vessel;maneuvering the hull robot about the hull using a drive module supported within the hull robot; and operating an ultrasonic cleaning element configured to oscillate relative to the hull at ultrasonic frequencies as the robot maneuvers about the hull to provide a cleaning function. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A hull cleaning robot, comprising:
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a robot body; at least one drive module supported by the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull of a vessel, the at least one drive module comprising at least one drive element configured to at least partially secure the robot to the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull; and at least one non-rotating cleaning element supported about the robot body that facilitates at least one cleaning function for cleaning the hull of a vessel. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A hull cleaning robot, comprising:
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a robot body; at least one drive module supported by the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull of a vessel, the at least one drive module comprising at least one drive element configured to contact the hull, and to at least partially secure the robot to the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull; and at least one blade-like cleaning element supported about the robot body that facilitates at least one cleaning function for cleaning the hull of the vessel, the cleaning element extending towards the hull at least to a plane defined by a surface of the drive module in contact with the hull. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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45. A hull cleaning robot, comprising:
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a robot body; at least one drive module supported by the robot body for maneuvering the robot about a hull of a vessel, the at least one drive module comprising at least one drive element configured to at least partially secure the robot to the hull as the robot maneuvers about the hull; and at least one rotating cleaning element that rotates substantially parallel to a vessel surface to facilitate a cleaning function for cleaning the hull of the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A hull robot, comprising:
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a robot body; a downforce generation system operable with the robot body to create a low pressure condition about the robot body and increase a downforce of the hull robot against a hull of a vessel. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A method of creating a hull robot, comprising:
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providing a robot body as part of a hull robot; providing a downforce generation system operable with the robot body to create a low pressure condition about the robot body and increase a downforce of the hull robot against a hull of a vessel. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method of at least partially securing a hull robot to a hull of a vessel, the method comprising:
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positioning a hull robot about a hull of a vessel in motion within a fluid, wherein the vessel in motion generates passing fluid relative to the hull; and operating the hull robot about the hull of the vessel to cause a portion of fluid from the passing fluid to interact with a downforce generation system operable with and supported about a robot body of the hull robot, such that a low pressure condition is created about the robot body, whereby a downforce of the hull robot against a hull of a vessel in increased. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70)
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71. A hull robot, comprising:
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a subsystem; a direct drive system operable to at least partially power the subsystem, and comprising a power scavenging device; an electric motor operable to at least partially power the subsystem; and a power supply operable to provide power to the electric motor, wherein the hull robot is operable within passing water generated by a vessel in motion, and wherein, when in operation with the passing water having a velocity above a velocity threshold as generated by the vessel in motion above a pre-determined threshold speed, the direct drive system supplements power output of the motor to at least reduce a power demand on the motor from the subsystem to operate the subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A method for operating a hull robot, comprising:
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detecting whether the hull robot is submersed in passing fluid resulting from a vessel in motion; operating a subsystem of the hull robot using a motor when the hull robot is not submersed in the passing fluid, or when submersed in fluid having a velocity below a velocity threshold; and operating the subsystem of the hull robot using, at least in part, a direct drive system when the hull robot is submersed in the passing fluid having a velocity above the velocity threshold. - View Dependent Claims (81, 82, 83)
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Specification