VERSATILE FLEXIBLE AND RECONFIGURABLE VEHICLE SYSTEMS
First Claim
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1. A submerging interconnectable tile operable within a liquid, the interconnectable tile comprising:
- a frame defining opposing open ends and having one or more connectors configured to engage external connectors of at least one adjacent interconnectable tile to form a joint between the frame and the at least one adjacent interconnectable tile;
a thrust unit secured within the frame and configured to provide thrust for the submerging tile at least in part by pulling liquid through the opposing open ends of the frame;
a controller secured within the frame and configured to transmit control signals to the thrust module; and
one or more shutters operably connected with the, wherein the one or more shutters are configurable between one or more open positions and a closed position to at least partially seal an open end of the opposing open ends of the frame to dynamically control fluid dynamic interactions with a liquid.
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Abstract
Various embodiments are directed to interconnectable tiles configured for operation in an aquatic environment or a near-zero/zero gravity environment. The interconnectable tiles are configured to interconnect relative to one another to form interconnected surfaces, and individual interconnectable tiles provide thrust, ballast, and/or buoyancy to the overall interconnected surface so as to move the interconnected surface in a desired configuration.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A submerging interconnectable tile operable within a liquid, the interconnectable tile comprising:
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a frame defining opposing open ends and having one or more connectors configured to engage external connectors of at least one adjacent interconnectable tile to form a joint between the frame and the at least one adjacent interconnectable tile; a thrust unit secured within the frame and configured to provide thrust for the submerging tile at least in part by pulling liquid through the opposing open ends of the frame; a controller secured within the frame and configured to transmit control signals to the thrust module; and one or more shutters operably connected with the, wherein the one or more shutters are configurable between one or more open positions and a closed position to at least partially seal an open end of the opposing open ends of the frame to dynamically control fluid dynamic interactions with a liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A submerging interconnected surface comprising:
a plurality of submerging interconnectable tiles each comprising; a frame having one or more connectors configured to engage external connectors of at least one adjacent interconnectable tile to form a joint between the frame and the at least one adjacent interconnectable tile; an independently controllable thrust module; a controller secured within the frame and configured to transmit control signals to the thrust module and to communicate with other interconnectable tiles within the interconnected surface via one or more communication protocols. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An interconnected surface configured for operation in a zero-gravity environment, the interconnected surface comprising:
a plurality of interconnectable tiles configured for operation in a zero-gravity environment, wherein each interconnectable tile of the plurality of interconnectable tiles comprises; a frame having one or more connectors configured to engage external connectors of at least one adjacent interconnectable tile to form a joint between the frame and the at least one adjacent interconnectable tile; an independently controllable thrust module operable within a zero-gravity environment; a controller secured within the frame and configured to transmit control signals to the thrust module and to communicate with other interconnectable tiles within the interconnected surface via one or more communication protocols. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
Specification