Modularized unmanned marine surface vehicle

• US 6,427,615 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2001
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strong Engineering Consulting Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Strong Engineering Consulting Company Limited
• Inventors: Ku, Bih-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): BASINGER, SHERMAN D
• Application Number:
  US09/760,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20020092458A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 114/77.R, 114/61.27, 114/61.29, 114/61.3, 114/61.31, 114/144.A
• US Class Current: 114/77.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/006 Unmanned surface vessels, e.g. remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2211/02 Oceanography
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 3/08 with detachably-connected sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/00 Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A modularized unmanned marine surface vehicle contains control section and propulsion section. The control section is composed of bow section, control cabin, probing module, communication module and conjunction module. The propulsion section contains an energy cabin and a power plant cabin. The conjunction module can be combined with the energy cabin as a complete unmanned marine surface vehicle. The probing module contains probing instruments and equipment. The propulsion section can be battery-powered, gasoline-powered or diesel-powered. The propulsion section can be equipped with a propeller, a water jet or a turbine jet propeller of high power or low power as the power source assembly.

Claims

1. A modular, unmanned marine surface vehicle comprising:

a) a propulsion section including a power plant cabin containing a power source for propelling the marine surface vehicle, and an energy cabin including opposite sides and an upper opening, the energy cabin configured to house an energy source for the power source; and

,

b) a control section removably attached to the propulsion section and including a bow section, a control cabin and a conjunction module, the conjunction module having a cover panel removably attached to the energy cabin so as to cover the upper opening of the energy cabin and to removably attach the control section to the propulsion section, the conjunction module further having wing panels extending from the cover panel so as to be located on the opposite sides of the energy cabin.

2. The modular unmanned marine surface vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bars extending from the energy cabin adjacent to the upper opening.

3. The modular unmanned marine surface vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a gasket located between the cover panel and the energy cabin adjacent to the upper opening.

4. The modular unmanned marine surface vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a global positioning system (GPS) antenna/receiver mounted on the control section.

5. The modular, unmanned marine surface vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a modem having a remote-control antenna, the modem being mounted on the control section.

6. The modular unmanned marine surface vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a rear cabin cover attached to the power plant cabin.