Hull Robot With Hull Separation Countermeasures
First Claim
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1. A hull robot configured to operate on a surface of a hull of a vessel, comprising:
- a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving and maneuvering the robot about the hull;
a sensor subsystem onboard the robot configured to sense an attachment state of the robot relative to the hull, the attachment state comprising at least one of attached and detached; and
a signal generation subsystem onboard the robot configured to emit a distress signal when the attachment state is detached.
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Abstract
A hull robot is disclosed for operation on a surface of a hull of a vessel. The robot can include a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving and maneuvering the robot about the hull. A sensor subsystem onboard the robot can sense an attachment state of the robot to the hull. The attachment state can include at least one of attached and detached. A signal generation subsystem onboard the robot can emit a distress signal when the attachment state is detached.
15 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A hull robot configured to operate on a surface of a hull of a vessel, comprising:
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a drive subsystem onboard the robot for driving and maneuvering the robot about the hull; a sensor subsystem onboard the robot configured to sense an attachment state of the robot relative to the hull, the attachment state comprising at least one of attached and detached; and a signal generation subsystem onboard the robot configured to emit a distress signal when the attachment state is detached. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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- 3. The robot as in claim 2, wherein the robot surfacing device comprises a buoyant material.
- 19. The robot as in claim 1, wherein the sensor subsystem comprises a non-destructive hull inspection system, and wherein the signal generation subsystem is operable with the non-destructive hull inspection system.
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19-1. A method of detecting detachment of a hull robot from a surface of a hull of a vessel, comprising:
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positioning the robot about the hull; sensing an attachment state of the robot to the hull using a sensor subsystem onboard the robot, the attachment state comprising at least one of attached and detached; and emitting a distress signal using a signal generation subsystem onboard the robot when the attachment state is detached.
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20-2. The method as in claim 19, further comprising buoying the robot to float to a fluid surface when the attachment state is detached.
- 28. The method of claim 19, wherein sensing an attachment state of the robot comprises operating a non-destructive inspection system, and monitoring an output of the non-destructive inspection system.
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28-3. A system for detecting detachment of a hull robot from a surface of a hull of a vessel, comprising:
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a processor; a memory for storing hull property data; a sensor carried by the hull robot and configured to detect an attachment state of the robot relative to the hull, the attachment state comprising at least one of attached and detached; and a distress module carried by the hull robot and configured to identify a distress situation when the attachment state of the robot relative to the hull is detached.
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Specification