AUTONOMOUS BOAT DESIGN FOR MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS

• US 20170293302A1
• Filed: 04/04/2017
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sea Machines Robotics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Marine & Offshore Projects LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 10,467,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/007 autonomously operating
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/008 remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/00 Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0206 specially adapted to water vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 3/02 Anti-collision systems

Abstract

A boat that operate autonomously or by remote control, and may be operated without on-board personnel (unmanned) or may be operated in conjunction with onboard personnel, and to methods of using such boats at sea.

Claims

1. A method for propelling a target boat via an unmanned boat having autonomous navigation/guidance, control, and propulsion systems for moving target boat along a pre-determined guidance path for said target boat, comprising:

providing a linking system for joining the target boat to the unmanned boat to enable propulsion of target boat by unmanned boat;

providing a sea-state sensor system for accounting for current sea state of the environment of the target boat and the unmanned boat;

providing a position/orientation sensor system for said target boat;

providing a position/orientation system for said unmanned boat;

providing an Autonomous Control System for accounting for sea state, orientation/position of target boat and unmanned boat, and pre-determined path, wherein Autonomous Control System determines command/control instructions for the propulsion system; and

wherein said propulsion system receives commands for directing unmanned boat from autopilot system to propel target boat along the pre-determined path.