WATER VEHICLES

• US 20160023725A1
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liquid Robotics, Inc. (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Liquid Robotics, Inc. (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Hine, Roger G., Hine, Derek L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/00 Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/50 Vessels or floating structures for aircraft aircraft carriers B63G11/00; flying-boat hulls, other flotation means for aircraft B64
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 19/02 by using energy derived from movement of ambient water, e.g. from rolling or pitching of vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 19/00 Aircraft control not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/04 for launching aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/221 for handling seaplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/50 Foldable or collapsible UAVs with frangible components B64U20/30
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/293 Foldable or collapsible rotors or rotor supports
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 60/10 specially adapted for use on water
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/70 in containers B64U80/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

Equipment and methods that combine the use of wave powered vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). A UAV can be launched from a wave-powered vehicle, observe another vessel, and report the results of its observation to the wave-powered vehicle, and the wave-powered vehicle can report the results of the observation to a remote location. The UAV can land on water and can then be recovered by the wave-powered vehicle.

Claims

1. A float which comprises means for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

2. A wave-powered vehicle (WPV) as hereinbefore defined which comprises a float according to claim 1.

6. A method of monitoring a vessel which is floating in water, the method comprising:

correlating signals received by a plurality of WPVs to identify the location of the vessel; and

launching a UAV from a WPV according to claim 2.

3. A wave-powered vehicle (WPV) which comprises means for recovering an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is floating in the water.

4. A float which comprises means for recovering an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is floating in the water.

5. A method, performed by a wave-powered vehicle (WPV) having communications equipment, of monitoring vessels which are floating in water, the method comprising:

receiving communications from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the communications equipment of the WPV; and

transmitting corresponding communications to a receiving station at a remote location.

7. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which, when it lands on water, sinks below the surface of water except for a recovery means which remains above the surface of the water.

8. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can be converted between (1) a collapsed form in which it can be stowed in a tube and (2) an unfolded form which can operate as a UAV and which the UAV adopts automatically when it is released from the tube.

9. A float comprising:

a hull;

a launch tube mounted to the hull for storing a UAV according to claim 8 when the UAV is in its collapsed form; and

means for ejecting the collapsed UAV from the launch tube whereupon the UAV, when ejected, adopts its unfolded form.

10. The float of claim 9, and further comprising elements for providing wave-powered propulsion to the float so that the float is a component of a wave-powered vehicle (WPD).