Unmanned ocean vehicle
First Claim
1. An unmanned ocean vehicle for operating either on or below the surface of a body of water, said vehicle comprising:
- an enclosed hull having a payload bay;
a hybrid propulsion system having energy collectors and energy stores utilising at least (i) solar energy, (ii) wave or water current energy, and (iii) wind energy;
a plurality of sensors for detecting predetermined environmental parameters; and
a communications system for transmitting data from said sensors about selected environmental parameters to, and for receiving command signals from, one or more remote stations;
wherein the hybrid propulsion system includes an electrical machine mechanically coupled to a fluid drive element, and wherein the electrical machine is supplied from the energy stores to drive the fluid drive element in a motor mode, and wherein the vehicle further includes ballast tanks for selective submerging and re-surfacing of the vehicle to facilitate selective operation on or below the water surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An unmanned, autonomous, waterborne vehicle (500) for marine use capable of operating on and below the surface of water, said vehicle (500) including an enclosed hull (501) having a payload bay (506), a hybrid propulsion system having energy collection means (504) in the form of a wing sail (503) covered with photovoltaic cells and energy storage means (511) for utilizing at least solar energy and wind energy, a plurality of sensors (508, 514) for detecting predetermined environmental parameters and a communications system (509, 515) for transmitting data from said sensors (508, 515) to and for receiving command signals from one or more remote stations and/or cooperating vehicles.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An unmanned ocean vehicle for operating either on or below the surface of a body of water, said vehicle comprising:
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an enclosed hull having a payload bay; a hybrid propulsion system having energy collectors and energy stores utilising at least (i) solar energy, (ii) wave or water current energy, and (iii) wind energy; a plurality of sensors for detecting predetermined environmental parameters; and a communications system for transmitting data from said sensors about selected environmental parameters to, and for receiving command signals from, one or more remote stations; wherein the hybrid propulsion system includes an electrical machine mechanically coupled to a fluid drive element, and wherein the electrical machine is supplied from the energy stores to drive the fluid drive element in a motor mode, and wherein the vehicle further includes ballast tanks for selective submerging and re-surfacing of the vehicle to facilitate selective operation on or below the water surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification