995results about "Unmanned surface vessels" patented technology

A quadrotor UAV including ruggedized, integral-battery, load-bearing body, two arms on the load-bearing body, each arm having two rotors, a control module mounted on the load-bearing body, a payload module mounted on the control module, and skids configured as landing gear. The two arms are replaceable with arms having wheels for ground vehicle use, with arms having floats and props for water-surface use, and with arms having pitch-controlled props for underwater use. The control module is configured to operate as an unmanned aerial vehicle, an unmanned ground vehicle, an unmanned (water) surface vehicle, and an unmanned underwater vehicle, depending on the type of arms that are attached.

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 utilising 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.

The technical disclosure herein describes an autonomous water-borne vehicle having a segmented non-planing hull with free flood fore and aft sections and a sealed center section. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having a fixed longitudinal thruster and a fixed lateral thruster for changing the heading of the vehicle. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having an autonomous mission system, an autonomous navigation system, and a web-based command and control system. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a submersible winch. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle wherein the sealed center section is of substantially rectangular cross section. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a wheeled battery tray.

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.

A marine handling craft and system is intended for use in deploying, inspecting and receiving vessels and payloads to and from locations on, under, over or near water and wet soils in potentially turbulent aquatic or atmospheric conditions. The marine handling craft may operate as a robot, or deployed from a crane or boom on a mother ship or other platform or helicopter so that it can transport and mate and dock at various locations, such as supply ships or autonomous marine vessels, at a stand off distance to limit potential harm to valuable assets. A sliding fastener and track are included on the marine handling craft so that it can be tethered and lifted by a single line or cable, and so can be manipulated by a single crane or helicopter. The utility of the handling craft is not limited to the transport of payloads and it may function as a stand-alone vessel for various remote sensing purposes. Smart communication between the marine handling craft and other vessels or other nodes in a distributed computer network facilitates simultaneous, hierarchical and multi-tasking control of the craft and permits verification and inspection of payloads, which might otherwise cause damage when proximate to more valuable assets.

Many different types of systems are utilized or tasks are performed in a marine environment. The present invention provides various configurations of unmanned vehicles, or drones, that can be operated and / or controlled for such systems or tasks. One or more unmanned vehicles can be integrated with a dedicated marine electronic device of a marine vessel for autonomous control and operation. Additionally or alternatively, the unmanned vehicle can be manually remote operated during use in the marine environment. Such unmanned vehicles can be utilized in many different marine environment systems or tasks, including, for example, navigation, sonar, radar, search and rescue, video streaming, alert functionality, among many others. However, as contemplated by the present invention, the marine environment provides many unique challenges that may be accounted for with operation and control of an unmanned vehicle.

An unmanned vehicle may include a vehicle body that comprises an enclosed hull. The unmanned vehicle may include a propulsion, a ballast control system, a center of gravity system, a pressurization system, a control surface system, a navigation control system, and an on board master control system. The on board master control system may execute local control over operation of the various systems of the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle may also include a power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the various systems. The various systems of the unmanned vehicle may be independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water.

An apparatus and method for control of at least one of a plurality of semiautonomous marine vessels are provided. The system includes a control station with a communications system for network communication with marine vessels, and provides diagnostics and control for control and monitoring of the marine vessels, according to a mission plan.

Systems and associated methods for planning and control of a fleet of unmanned vehicles in missions that are coordinated temporally and spatially by geo-location, direction, vehicle orientation, altitude above sea level, and depth below sea level. The unmanned vehicles' transit routes may be fully autonomous, semi-autonomous, or under direct operator control using off board control systems. Means are provided for intervention and transit changes during mission execution. Means are provided to collect, centralize and analyze mission data collected on the set of participating unmanned vehicles.

A combined system of an unmanned ship and an unmanned submersible comprises the unmanned ship located on the water surface and the unmanned submersible located underwater. The unmanned ship and the unmanned submersible are connected through an umbilical cable. A power twisted pair for power supply and duration and a signal line for transmitting control signals and data signals are contained in the umbilical cable. An unreeling system for automatically reeling and unreeling the umbilical cable is arranged on the unmanned ship and comprises an unreeling winch used for twisting the umbilical cable, an unreeling steering engine for controlling the unreeling winch to rotate to reel and unreel the umbilical cable and an encoder for measuring the unreeling length. A butt joint berthing device is arranged between the unmanned ship and the unmanned submersible. By the adoption of the combined system, the umbilical cable is reeled and unreeled through the unreeling system, and the underwater locating accuracy is improved; the unmanned submersible and the unmanned ship can be in butt joint stably through the butt joint berthing device, the butt joint berthing device is driven by the unmanned ship to move on the water surface, and the navigation efficiency is improved; and when underwater observation is needed, the unmanned submersible can be automatically separated from the unmanned ship, and the launching depth of the unmanned ship is controlled through the unreeling system.

The use of shielded material in a deployable vehicle arresting and containment device that, when used for the interception of an unmanned vehicle, effectively achieves RF isolation of that vehicle, breaking all external communications with that vehicle. This apparatus, which may have internal and external antennas, could enable a variety of advanced effects such as localized GPS and command and control link spoofing and jamming as well as providing a vehicle for signal intercept and intelligence solutions. Additionally, due to the shielding properties of the arresting and containment device, semi-destructive means such as localized EMPs could be used to damage the encapsulated unmanned vehicle electronics.

A system of modular components can be used with existing sensor suites to fuse data and determine the operating environment (surface contacts / tracks) for an autonomous marine vehicle and feed an autonomy decision engine to improve the vessel arbitration process in deciding which way to turn, how fast to go, obstacle avoidance, and mission monitoring. The system includes the ability to obey the set of navigation rules published by the International Maritime Organization. Generally referred to as COLREGS (collision regulations).

An unmanned ocean-going vessel including a primary hull, a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull where the rigid wing freely rotates about a rotational axis of the rigid wing, a controller configured to maintain a desired heading, a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a position of the control surface element, where the controller is configured to determine a control surface angle and generate a signal to position the control surface element based on the control surface angle, a rudder, where the controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder to the rudder position, and a keel including ballast sufficient to provide a positive righting moment sufficient to cause the primary hull to passively right from any position.

A robotic ocean farm includes a plant support means such as a grid, with a submersible towing system incorporating means for navigation of the support grid in the open ocean, and means for positioning of the support grid in a first surfaced position for sunlight exposure of the plants and a second submerged position for nutrient gathering by the plants. The submersible towing system incorporates one or more tow boats connected to a forward periphery of the grid, each of the tow boats incorporating a propulsion system for navigation of the grid and maintaining lateral tension in the forward periphery of the grid. Additionally, one or more reaction boats are connected to an aft periphery of the grid. Each of the reaction boats incorporates a propulsion system for maintaining lateral tension in the aft periphery of the grid and reacting in concert with the tow boats to maintain longitudinal tension in the grid. A system for harvesting multiple independently operating farms incorporates a harvesting station which is placed or positions itself to meet the farms at predetermined locations during their voyage to harvest and replenish the plants carried on the farm grid. Base stations, separately or as a part of the harvesting station, communicate with the farms provide mutual support and informational exchange for optimized operation of the farms.

An unmanned vehicle may include a vehicle body that comprises an enclosed hull. The unmanned vehicle may include a propulsion, a ballast control system, a center of gravity system, a pressurization system, a control surface system, a navigation control system, and an on board master control system. The on board master control system may execute local control over operation of the various systems of the unmanned vehicle. The unmanned vehicle may also include a power supply carried by a portion of the vehicle body to provide power to the various systems. The various systems of the unmanned vehicle may be independently operable to support selective operation of the unmanned vehicle in the air, on the surface of the water, and below the surface of the water.

A marine handling craft and system is intended for use in deploying, inspecting and receiving vessels and payloads to and from locations on, under, over or near water and wet soils in potentially turbulent aquatic or atmospheric conditions. The marine handling craft may operate as a robot, or deployed from a crane or boom on a mother ship or other platform or helicopter so that it can transport and mate and dock at various locations, such as supply ships or autonomous marine vessels, at a stand off distance to limit potential harm to valuable assets. A sliding fastener and track are included on the marine handling craft so that it can be tethered and lifted by a single line or cable, and so can be manipulated by a single crane or helicopter. The utility of the handling craft is not limited to the transport of payloads and it may function as a stand-alone vessel for various remote sensing purposes. Smart communication between the marine handling craft and other vessels or other nodes in a distributed computer network facilitates simultaneous, hierarchical and multi-tasking control of the craft and permits verification and inspection of payloads, which might otherwise cause damage when proximate to more valuable assets.

This invention provides a vessel system and methodology that can be used to promote growth of phytoplankton in the oceans. Unmanned self-controlled wave-powered vessels are equipped with storage units for dispensing a fertilizer, and with sensors to monitor ocean conditions and effects. Fleets of vessels move autonomously by on-board processing of GPS and directional information, piloting a path that is coordinated by a central processing unit. The vessels travel through a defined target area, creating a detailed survey of chemical and biological characteristics that affect grown. The data are processed in a computer model to identify precise locations and precise amounts of fertilizer that will produce the best results. Projected benefits of fertilizing plankton include sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere, and enhancing the marine food chain to improve the fish stock in and around the treated area.

A fish locating system combines the functionality of a remote controlled miniature electric boat with an underwater sonar system. The watercraft is provided with a sonar transponder attached to an exterior deck. The sonar transponder wirelessly transmits sonar readings including bottom depth and terrain, schools of fish, underwater obstructions, water temperature, and the like, to the watercraft's wireless remote controller's display screen. The remote controller comprises a display screen that visually depicts the sonar scan in real-time. In use, a person can be on shore or on an anchored boat while performing underwater reconnaissance.

Systems and associated methods for rapid integration and control of payloads carded by a multi-mode, unmanned vehicle configured to accommodate a variety of payloads of varying size, shape, and interface and control characteristics. Mechanical, power, signal, and logical interfaces to a variety of payloads operate to enable environmental protection, efficient placement and connection to the vehicle, and control of those payloads in multiple environmental modes as well as operational modes (including in air, on the surface of water surface, and underwater).

The invention discloses a stealth single-hull small waterline area hydrofoil unmanned ship sailing on water and a sailing method. The upper portion of the stealth single-hull small waterline area hydrofoil unmanned ship is provided with a control cabin, the middle portion comprises posts, and the lower portion is a submerged body. The front section of the submerged body is a submerged body bow, the middle section of the submerged body is a submerged body middle part, and the rear section of the submerged body is a submerged body stern. Two water ballast spaces, two power supply cell boxes and a hydrofoil control mechanism are arranged inside the submerged body middle part of a hull. The two water ballast spaces are symmetrically arranged front and back; the two power supply cell boxes symmetrical front and back are arranged between the two water ballast spaces; and the hydrofoil control mechanism is arranged in the center of the space between the two power supply cell boxes. A pair of hydrofoils is symmetrically arranged on the left side and the right side outside the submerged body middle part of the hull. A main motor, a coupler, a main shaft and a tail vane control mechanism are arranged inside the submerged body stern of the hull. A pair of tail vanes is symmetrically arranged on the left side and the right side outside the submerged body stern of the hull. The stealth single-hull small waterline area hydrofoil unmanned ship has excellent seakeeping, speedability and resistance properties, and can achieve the three navigational statuses of body navigation, winging operation and submerge navigation.

The invention discloses a marine environmental monitoring system based on unmanned ship formation motion. The system comprises multiple unmanned ships loaded with unmanned ship formation motion control systems, marine environmental monitoring sensing systems and wireless ZigBee communication systems and a remote marine environmental monitoring system. Each unmanned ship formation motion control system drives a corresponding unmanned ship motor in a set unmanned ship formation motion mode to form a shipping formation column and each unmanned ship moves according to the corresponding shipping track. Each marine environmental monitoring sensing system sends acquired marine environmental monitoring data to the remote marine environmental monitoring system in real time. Each wireless ZigBee communication system is connected with the corresponding unmanned ship and the remote marine environmental monitoring system. The remote marine environmental monitoring system forms a visual interface in real time and can remotely control each unmanned ship. By the adoption of the system, movable environmental monitoring, positioning and display comprehensive monitoring can be conducted according to the characteristics of abruptness, uncertainty and the like of the marine environment.

This invention provides a vessel system and methodology that can be used to promote growth of phytoplankton in the oceans. Unmanned self-controlled wave-powered vessels are equipped with storage units for dispensing a fertilizer, and with sensors to monitor ocean conditions and effects. Fleets of vessels move autonomously by on-board processing of GPS and directional information, piloting a path that is coordinated by a central processing unit. The vessels travel through a defined target area, creating a detailed survey of chemical and biological characteristics that affect grown. The data are processed in a computer model to identify precise locations and precise amounts of fertilizer that will produce the best results. Projected benefits of fertilizing plankton include sequestering CO2 from the atmosphere, and enhancing the marine food chain to improve the fish stock in and around the treated area.

A fleet of autonomous sailing vessels that are equipped with monitoring and communication equipment for reporting environmental and other conditions. For optimal stability, the autonomous sailing vessels are multi-hulled vessels (catamarans) with self-righting capabilities. Each sailing vessel sends and receives information via one or more satellite links, using solar power to power the communications equipment as well as the monitoring equipment. Each sailing vessel includes an auto-sailtrim system to maintain a desired attack angle with the wind, and electric propulsion for use as required to maintain a desired heading. A modular design is used to support mission-specific payloads.

The invention discloses a device for recovering an autonomous underwater vehicle by an unmanned ship based on a guide cable. The device for recovering the autonomous underwater vehicle is characterized in that the water surface unmanned ship, a recovery device carried on the water surface unmanned ship, the recovered or arranged autonomous underwater vehicle and a guide recovery control system arranged on the autonomous underwater vehicle are included; an underwater acoustic transducer is arranged at the bottom of the water surface unmanned ship and is used for underwater acoustic communication of the water surface unmanned ship and the autonomous underwater vehicle; a hydraulic telescopic rod connected with the recovery device is arranged in a cabin of the water surface unmanned ship; motion of the recovery device in the vertical direction can be achieved through the hydraulic telescopic rod; and an arc-shaped guide arm and cable fastening pliers are arranged at the top end of the bowof the autonomous underwater vehicle. The device for recovering the autonomous underwater vehicle has the beneficial effects that a USV serves as a water surface platform, and the device and method for autonomously recovering the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) through a guide cable are adopted so as to overcome the defects that in the prior technological means, water surface arrangement recovery is greatly influenced by sea wind waves, and people and equipment safety risk exists.

The invention discloses a wireless charging device for unmanned aerial vehicles and an unmanned ship and a combined cruise searching and rescuing method. The device comprises an unmanned ship and a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles, a plurality of stop loading platforms are arranged on the unmanned ship, and the unmanned aerial vehicles berth and land and take-off through the stop loading platforms; wireless charging units are arranged below the unmanned aerial vehicles, and wireless power supplying units are arranged on the stop loading platforms; and when berthing on the stop loading platforms, the unmanned aerial vehicles are subjected to wireless charging through the wireless charging units and the wireless power supplying units. According to the wireless charging device for the unmanned aerial vehicles and the unmanned ship, the range and the efficiency of cruise searching and rescuing are enhanced greatly through combined cruise searching and rescuing of the unmanned aerial vehicles and the unmanned ship, and therefore a maritime sector can discover abnormal conditions on the sea earlier or search and rescue wrecked ships and overboard personnel earlier; and the cruising ability of the unmanned aerial vehicles is enhanced through adopting the unmanned ship to charge the unmanned aerial vehicles wirelessly, so that the unmanned aerial vehicles can conduct more cruise searching and rescuing operations.

A ship motion prediction system is described that includes a plurality of surface platforms and a central computer having a communications interface. The platforms each include a propulsion system for movement of the platform, a plurality of sensors operable for gathering sensor data relating to an environment proximate the platform, a processing device communicatively coupled to the propulsion system and the plurality of sensors, and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processing device. The central computer includes a communications interface, and the processing device is programmed to transmit sensor data to the central computer via the transceiver and the communications interface. The central computer is programmed to transmit commands for operation of the propulsion system to the processing device via the communications interface and transceiver. The central computer is further programmed to predict an effect of the environments associated with the plurality of surface platforms on a water vessel or vessels operating within a vicinity of the plurality of surface platforms.

This invention concerns a remote control unmanned boat which can be freely operated by remote control and a remote control device. The remote control unmanned boat comprises a propelling power source 11 for generating a propelling power, a steering device 13 for freely varying the direction of advance, a first transmit-receive antenna 24 for receiving the signal transmitted by ratio from a control device 20, a first controller 15 for controlling the propelling power source 11 and the steering device 13 based on the signal received from the first transmit-receive antenna 14, a memory device 17 for memorizing the initial position set in advance, and a GPS antenna 16 for receiving the electric wave transmitted from an artificial satellite. The first controller 15 calculates the present position based on the electric wave received by the GPS antenna 16 and, when the stated condition is satisfied, initiates automatic control of the propelling power source 11 and the steering device 13 so as to attain regression to the initial position based on the present position and the initial position. Thus, the remote control unmanned boat has no possibility of being missed.

A boat or ship (marine vessel) can be powered and propelled by using wind or solar energy. This propulsion results in the forward movement and six degrees of motion (roll, heave, pitch, yaw, surge, and sway) of the marine vessel. These motions have kinetic energy. This invention capitalizes on the fact that the solar wind and wave energy are cyclical by nature. The present invention enables the vessel to store energy harvested from these energy sources during periods when levels of energy is available from wind, solar, or the motion of the vessel in waves. This invention makes this stored energy available for use during periods when the external natural sources of energy (wind, wave, or solar) are not available in adequate quantities to maintain a reasonable speed of advance for the marine vessel. The harvesting of the energy during high energy cycles, storing it and using it when needed in this invention allows a marine vessel to get maximum speed of advance over a course. In this invention the marine vessel can maintain faster average speed without reliance on any fossil or chemical fuel and by only using renewable energy sources. In this invention the vessel is normally driven by wind channeling methods like canvas or foil sails or Flettner rotors. In addition to this, the vessel can be propelled by propulsion thrusters such as propellers, rim driven thrusters, azimuthing drives, water jets or other means of thrusting and propelling the vessel. These propulsion devices are driven by regenerative electric motors using stored electric energy in batteries on the vessel. The energy stored in the battery bank is used to provide supplemental or primary propulsion during cyclical periods when natural sources of wind, wave or solar energy are low. These same thrusters and their electric motors work in reverse to generate and harvest energy when wind levels are high and as the marine vessel is moving forward at higher speeds while being propelled by wind energy. In this invention the batteries, which are dense and heavy, to store this energy, are secured in the bottom of the marine vessel also serve as ballast to keep the vessel upright. This serves to lower the marine vessel's center of gravity to get the maximum hull stability for safety. This also helps the vessel channel maximum available wind energy to propel the vessel and harvest energy whenever stronger winds permit.

The invention discloses a remotely controllable water quality detection boat and a water quality detection method applying the same. The water quality detection boat comprises a boat body, a driving module, a detection module, a sampling module and a control module, wherein the driving module, the detection module, the sampling module and the control module are all arranged on the boat body, and the control module is in signal connection with a terminal. With the remotely controllable water quality detection boat and the water quality detection method applying the same of the invention adopted, water quality pollution conditions including the pH value, chromaticity and heavy metal ions of a river which is inspected by the water quality detection boat can be monitored at any time; samplingextraction can be performed on detected pollutants, so that evidences can be detected, analyzed, and fixed. The remotely controllable water quality detection boat and the water quality detection method applying the same can be widely applied to river channel water quality detection. With the remotely controllable water quality detection boat and the water quality detection method applying the sameadopted, the working burden of environment-friendly law enforcement personnel can be greatly reduced. The remotely controllable water quality detection boat and the water quality detection method applying the same can serve as a river chief for protecting the water quality of rivers and lakes.

The invention discloses an unmanned-ship-towed underwater magnetic detection system. The unmanned-ship-towed underwater magnetic detection system comprises an unmanned ship, a towed body connected with the unmanned ship by virtue of a towrope as well as a control system used for data processing and automatic control of the magnetic detection system; the unmanned ship is a water surface platform ofthe magnetic detection system and comprises a ship body of the unmanned ship, a winch system arranged at the tail of the unmanned ship, a detection system arranged at the head of the unmanned ship aswell as a communication system used for real-time communication between the unmanned ship and a shore station; and the winch system is used for controlling underwater movement of the towed body by laying and recycling a towrope and comprises a motor, the towrope used for towing the towed body, a winch used for coiling the towrope thereon as well as a mounting bracket. The unmanned-ship-towed underwater magnetic detection system disclosed by the invention has the beneficial effects that the magnetic detection system utilizes an underwater magnetic detection location technology, the unmanned ship on water is taken as a mother ship towing body, the towed body carries a three-component magnetometer array, and near-bottom target detection and location is performed.