Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of obtaining data with a sensor of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the AUV comprising a bladder which contains a gas and is exposed to ambient water pressure, the method comprising:
- a. generating a downward thrust force which causes the AUV to descend through a body of water, wherein the bladder contracts as the AUV descends due to an associated increase in the ambient water pressure, the contraction of the bladder causing the gas to compress and the AUV to become negatively buoyant;
b. landing the AUV on a bed of the body of water;
c. after the AUV has landed on the bed, operating the sensor to obtain data with the AUV stationary and negatively buoyant and a weight of the AUV supported by the bed; and
d. after the data has been obtained, generating an upward thrust force which overcomes the negative buoyancy of the AUV and causes the AUV to ascend through the body of water, the ascent of the AUV causing the bladder to expand due to the associated decrease in the ambient water pressure, the expansion of the bladder causing the gas to decompress and the AUV to become neutrally buoyant.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of obtaining data with a sensor of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the AUV comprising a bladder which contains a gas and is exposed to ambient water pressure. A downward thrust force is generated which causes the AUV to descend through a body of water, wherein the bladder contracts as the AUV descends due to an associated increase in the ambient water pressure, the contraction of the bladder causing the gas to compress and the AUV to become negatively buoyant. Next the AUV lands on a bed of the body of water. After the AUV has landed on the bed, the sensor is operated to obtain data with the AUV stationary and negatively buoyant and a weight of the AUV supported by the bed. After the data has been obtained, an upward thrust force is generated which overcomes the negative buoyancy of the AUV and causes the AUV to ascend through the body of water, the ascent of the AUV causing the bladder to expand due to the associated decrease in the ambient water pressure, the expansion of the bladder causing the gas to decompress and the AUV to become neutrally buoyant.
13 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of obtaining data with a sensor of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), the AUV comprising a bladder which contains a gas and is exposed to ambient water pressure, the method comprising:
-
a. generating a downward thrust force which causes the AUV to descend through a body of water, wherein the bladder contracts as the AUV descends due to an associated increase in the ambient water pressure, the contraction of the bladder causing the gas to compress and the AUV to become negatively buoyant; b. landing the AUV on a bed of the body of water; c. after the AUV has landed on the bed, operating the sensor to obtain data with the AUV stationary and negatively buoyant and a weight of the AUV supported by the bed; and d. after the data has been obtained, generating an upward thrust force which overcomes the negative buoyancy of the AUV and causes the AUV to ascend through the body of water, the ascent of the AUV causing the bladder to expand due to the associated decrease in the ambient water pressure, the expansion of the bladder causing the gas to decompress and the AUV to become neutrally buoyant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) comprising:
-
a sensor for obtaining data; a propulsion system for generating a thrust force to propel the AUV through the water; and a bladder which contains a gas and is exposed to ambient water pressure when the AUV is submerged; wherein the bladder is arranged to contract as the AUV descends due to an associated increase in the ambient water pressure, the contraction of the bladder causing the gas to compress and the AUV to become negatively buoyant, and wherein the bladder is arranged to expand as the AUV ascends due to an associated decrease in the ambient water pressure, the expansion of the bladder causing the gas to decompress and the AUV to become neutrally buoyant. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification