MULTIPLE ENVIRONMENT UNMANNED VEHICLE

• US 20150266576A1
• Filed: 09/11/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions Of Sandia LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Hobbart, Clinton G., Morse, William D., Bickerstaff, Robert James
• Granted Patent: US 9,580,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 3/0007 Arrangement of propulsion or steering means on amphibious vehicles marine propulsion or steering B63H
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 3/003 Parts or details of the vehicle structure; vehicle arrangements not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/006 droppable
• CPC Class Codes: B60F 5/02 convertible into aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 2008/004 autonomously operating
• 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: B63G 8/08 Propulsion schnorkels B63G8/36; nuclear propulsion B63H21/18; submerged exhausting apparatus F01N13/12
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/00 Type of UAV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/25 Fixed-wing aircraft VTOL aircraft B64U10/20
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/70 Convertible aircraft, e.g. convertible into land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/40 Modular UAVs
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/00 UAVs specially adapted for particular uses or applications
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/15 for conventional or electronic warfare
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/14 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/20 : for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft

Abstract

A MEUV that is able to navigate aerial, aquatic, and terrestrial environments through the use of different mission mobility attachments is disclosed. The attachments allow the MEUV to be deployed from the air or through the water prior to any terrestrial navigation. The mobility attachments can be removed or detached by and from the vehicle during a mission.

Claims

1. A multiple environment unmanned vehicle, comprising:

a central platform comprising a control unit, drive system, power supply and a payload; and

two or more mobility attachments connected to the central platform;

wherein the two or more mobility attachments are selected from a group consisting of an aerial configuration kit, an aquatic configuration kit, and a land configuration kit.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aerial configuration kit comprises one or more wings.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aquatic configuration kit comprises one or more propulsion planes.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the land configuration kit comprises one or more wheels.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the payload is selected from a group consisting of a camera, sensor, explosive, additional processor and beacon.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises one or more motors coupled to an output shaft.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aerial configuration kit comprises one or more wings.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the aquatic configuration kit comprises one or more propulsion planes.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the land configuration kit comprises one or more wheels.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the payload is selected from a group consisting of a camera, sensor, explosive, additional processor and beacon.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drive system comprises one or more motors coupled to an output shaft.

7. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the one or more motors provides power to the two or more mobility attachments.

14. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the one or more motors provides power to the two or more mobility attachments

8. A multiple environment unmanned vehicle system, comprising:

a multiple environment unmanned vehicle, comprising;

a central platform comprising a control unit, drive system, power supply and a payload; and

two or more mobility attachments connected to the central platform;

wherein the two or more mobility attachments are selected from a group consisting of an aerial configuration kit, an aquatic configuration kit, and a land configuration kit; and

a command center comprising a user interface.

15. A method of operating a multiple environment unmanned vehicle, comprising:

launching the multiple environment unmanned vehicle in a configuration selected from a group consisting of an aerial configuration and an aquatic configuration; and

reconfiguring the multiple environment unmanned vehicle during a mission, wherein the reconfiguring is selected from a group consisting of aerial to aquatic, aerial to land and aquatic to land.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the reconfiguring is performed by the multiple environment unmanned vehicle detaching a mobility attachment.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobility attachment is detached by mechanically or chemically releasing the mobility attachment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobility attachment is detached mechanically by one or more methods comprising by a mechanical release, air pressure assist, mechanical assist, and the use of small explosives.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobility attachment is detached chemically by chemical dissolution.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobility attachment is detached upon an internal mission command.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobility attachment is detached by an operator during the mission.