System for the combined handling, delivery and/or protection of multiple standardized containers and their controllable payloads

• US 6,853,875 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Moritz, Elan, Portmann, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O.
• Application Number:
  US10/101,095
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 700/213, 700/225, 700/229
• US Class Current: 700/229
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

An unmanned system is provided for the handling and delivery of a plurality of operational payloads. Each of a plurality of standardized shipping containers houses an operational payload, a controller that controls functions of the operational payload, and communication means that communicates with the controller. A structure is provided for supporting the shipping containers in a fixed relationship to one another so that the shipping containers can be handled and transported collectively by moving the structure. The structure is equipped with means to facilitate data transfer with each shipping container'"'"'s controller.

Claims

1. An unmanned system for the handling and delivery of a plurality of operational payloads, comprising:

a plurality of standardized shipping containers, each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers housing an operational payload;

each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers housing i) a controller that couples to and controls functions of the operational payload associated therewith, and ii) communication means that couples to and communicates with said controller;

a structure for supporting said plurality of standardized shipping containers in a fixed relationship to one another wherein said plurality of standardized shipping containers can be handled and transported collectively by moving said structure; and

means, supported by said structure and coupled to each said communication means, for facilitating data transfer with each said controller.

2. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising sensor means supported by said structure and coupled to said means for facilitating data transfer with each said controller.

3. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising armor coupled to at least a portion of said structure for protecting said structure from strikes by projectiles.

4. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers is an ISO shipping container.

5. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means, mounted in at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers and coupled to said controller and the operational payload associated therewith, for automated manipulation of the operational payload as dictated by instructions provided by said controller.

6. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means, coupled to said controller and shipping container structure of at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers, for automatically opening said shipping container structure as dictated by instructions provided by said controller to permit dispensing of at least a portion of the operational payload associated therewith.

7. An unmanned system as in claim 6 wherein said means is coupled to a side of said shipping container structure and wherein said side can be opened and closed.

8. An unmanned system as in claim 6 wherein said means is coupled to a bottom portion of said shipping container structure and wherein said bottom portion can be opened and closed.

9. An unmanned system as in claim 6 wherein said means is coupled to a top portion of said shipping container structure and wherein said top portion can be opened and closed.

10. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising armor coupled to at least a portion of at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for protection thereof from strikes by projectiles.

11. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said controller for at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers is pre-programmed to autonomously control said functions of the operational payload associated therewith.

12. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein said controller for at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers is programmable in real time by remotely-sent instructions received by said communication means associated therewith.

13. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein each said communication means is a wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote location.

14. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means, mounted in each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers and coupled to said controller associated therewith, for autonomously establishing a global position thereof.

15. An unmanned system as in claim 14 wherein said means for autonomously establishing a global position is selected from the group consisting of a GPS system and an inertial navigation system.

16. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising propulsion means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers and said controller associated therewith, wherein said at least one can be maneuvered under control of said controller associated therewith.

17. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for placing said at least one in preferred orientation when released into a fluid environment.

18. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means mounted on the outside of each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for facilitating handling thereof.

19. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means mounted on the outside of each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for facilitating connection with an adjacent shipping container.

20. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers is waterproof.

21. An unmanned system as in claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers incorporated EMI shielding.

22. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for mitigating shock forces experienced thereby.

23. An unmanned system as in claim 1 further comprising means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for controlling climatic conditions therein.

24. An unmanned system for the handling and delivery of a plurality of operational payloads, comprising:

a plurality of standardized shipping containers, each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers housing an operational payload, each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers having exterior features for facilitating handling thereof;

each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers housing i) a controller that couples to and controls functions of the operational payload associated therewith and monitors status thereof, and ii) a wireless communications transceiver that couples to and communicates with said controller associated therewith for transmitting said status to a remote location and for receiving instructions from said remote location wherein said instructions are used by said controller in controlling said functions of the operational payload associated therewith;

a structure for supporting said plurality of standardized shipping containers in a fixed relationship to one another wherein said plurality of standardized shipping containers can be handled and transported collectively by moving said structure; and

means, housed within said structure, for facilitating data transfer with each said controller via said wireless communications transceiver.

25. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising sensor means supported by said structure and coupled to said means for facilitating data transfer with each said controller.

26. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising armor coupled to at least a portion of said structure for protecting said structure from strikes by projectiles.

27. An unmanned system as in claim 24 wherein each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers is an ISO shipping container.

28. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising means, mounted in at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers and coupled to said controller and the operational payload associated therewith, for automated manipulation of the operational payload as dictated by instructions provided by said controller.

29. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising means, coupled to said controller and shipping container structure of at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers, for automatically opening said shipping container structure as dictated by instructions provided by said controller to permit dispensing of at least a portion of the operational payload associated therewith.

30. An unmanned system as in claim 29 wherein said means is coupled to a side of said shipping container structure and wherein said side can be opened and closed.

31. An unmanned system as in claim 29 wherein said means is coupled to a bottom portion of said shipping container structure and wherein said bottom portion can be opened and closed.

32. An unmanned system as in claim 29 wherein said means is coupled to a top portion of said shipping container structure and wherein said top portion can be opened and closed.

33. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising armor coupled to at least a portion of at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for protection thereof from strikes by projectiles.

34. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising means, mounted in each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers and coupled to said controller associated therewith, for autonomously establishing a global position thereof.

35. An unmanned system as in claim 34 wherein said means for autonomously establishing a global position is selected from the group consisting of a GPS system and an inertial navigation system.

36. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising propulsion means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers and said controller associated therewith, wherein said at least one can be maneuvered under control of said controller associated therewith.

37. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for placing said at least one in a preferred orientation when released into a fluid environment.

38. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising means mounted on the outside of each of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for facilitating connection with an adjacent shipping container.

39. An unmanned system as in claim 24 wherein at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers is waterproof.

40. An unmanned system as in claim 24 wherein at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers incorporated EMI shielding.

41. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for mitigating shock forces experienced thereby.

42. An unmanned system as in claim 24 further comprising means coupled to at least one of said plurality of standardized shipping containers for controlling climatic conditions therein.