Drifting type buoy for geological observation in torrent high-waterfall weak satellite communication environment

Abstract

A drifting buoy for geological observation in a torrent high-waterfall weak satellite communication environment comprises a shell, a protrusion is arranged in the center of the top face of the shell, a buoy signal lamp is installed on one side of the protrusion, and a camera is installed on the other side of the protrusion; a mounting disc is fixed in the shell in the horizontal direction, a control module and a Beidou positioning communication module are arranged above the mounting disc, a Beidou antenna is further arranged on the mounting disc, and the upper portion of the Beidou antenna extends to the protrusion; a battery pack is arranged below the mounting disc, a ballast is arranged below the battery pack, and a water temperature meter and a water depth meter are mounted at the bottom of the ballast. By modifying the shape of the drifting mark, designing the drifting mark into an ellipsoid shape and having no edges and corners, uneven stress in all directions is prevented, meanwhile, the gravity center of the drifting mark is adjusted, the stability of the drifting mark is kept as much as possible, and the problem that due to the surge influence, the buoy drifts towards the shore and cannot normally drift along the river in the river is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of buoy technology, and in particular to a drifting buoy for geological observation in environments with rapid currents, high waterfalls, weak satellite communication, and poor environmental conditions. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, most drifting buoys in existing technologies are used for ocean surface observation and monitoring, and are widely used in ocean current research, ocean observation, and maritime search and rescue tracking. Among them, the Argo buoy, a buoy for profiling, has been used for ocean surface temperature, salinity, and depth profiling for many years, and most ocean monitoring activities are carried out using this type of buoy.

[0003] The monitored waters differ from traditional ocean surface observation environments in that the topographical and hydrological conditions are complex, variable, and lack detailed information. In particular, the water flow is rapid, runoff is abundant, sediment transport is high, the average elevation of the waters is high, the drainage basin is long and narrow with many sharp bends, the overall water level is large, and there are multiple canyons, waterfalls, and other unique hydrological landforms. Compared to drifting buoys used in traditional ocean surface environments, the environmental adaptability requirements of the target waters must be fully considered, such as impact resistance, lightning protection, and suitability for shallow depths. Furthermore, the remote location of the target waters and the weak satellite signal strength necessitate consideration of data storage and transmission stability. The buoy body is fundamental to completing communication, positioning, and monitoring tasks. It must meet multiple functional requirements while minimizing its size and weight, possessing good hydrodynamic performance, high strength and stability margin, and the ability to accommodate future equipment expansion. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the shortcomings of the existing production technology, the applicant provides a reasonably structured drifting buoy for geological observation in environments with rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication, thereby effectively solving the aforementioned problems.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0006] A drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments includes an outer shell. A protrusion is located at the center of the top surface of the outer shell. A buoy signal light is installed on one side of the protrusion, and a camera is installed on the other side. A mounting plate is horizontally fixed inside the outer shell. A control module and a BeiDou positioning and communication module are arranged above the mounting plate. A BeiDou antenna is also arranged on the mounting plate, extending upwards to the protrusion. A battery pack is arranged below the mounting plate, and a ballast is arranged below the battery pack. A water temperature gauge and a depth gauge are installed at the bottom of the ballast.

[0007] As a further improvement to the above technical solution:

[0008] The outer shell adopts a fiberglass spherical structure.

[0009] The outer shell has a wall thickness of 4 mm.

[0010] The outer shell adopts a split structure, which includes an upper hemisphere and a lower hemisphere arranged opposite to each other. Both the upper and lower hemispheres are provided with flange edges on their outer rings, and the two flange edges are fixed to the seals by fasteners.

[0011] The outer surface of the housing is coated with a 2mm thick polyurea coating.

[0012] Adjustment lead pellets are distributed at the bottom of the inner shell.

[0013] The BeiDou positioning and communication module is installed above the waterline.

[0014] The thermometer and depth gauge are located at the bottom of the housing, and the probes of both the thermometer and depth gauge extend to the bottom of the housing.

[0015] The diameter of the outer shell is 460 mm.

[0016] The buoy signal light is equipped with an 1800mAh 18650 battery.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0018] This invention features a compact and rational structure, convenient operation, and provides a self-adjusting and stable geological observation drifting buoy that effectively solves the problems encountered by communication buoys in complex waterways. By modifying the buoy's shape to an ellipsoidal form without sharp edges, uneven force distribution is prevented. Simultaneously, the buoy's center of gravity is adjusted to maintain stability, addressing the issue of buoys drifting towards the shore due to wave surges and failing to drift normally along the river. The spherical base prevents the buoy from getting stuck, and the polyurea coating on the surface becomes relatively smooth when wet, reducing resistance to getting stuck and mitigating the impact of grounding in shallow waters and rocks. The ellipsoidal design lowers the center of gravity, increasing stability and ensuring a stable operating angle for the GPS signal transmitter. Furthermore, the antenna, positioned at the top of the buoy, has a delayed transmission function to ensure uninterrupted signal transmission; when the signal is weak, information can be stored and transmitted with a delay. The buoy is constructed using a high-performance solid buoyancy material with low water absorption even after prolonged immersion. The polyurea coating on the surface further prevents the buoyancy material from contacting water, further reducing water absorption. To prevent insufficient energy reserves due to prolonged drift caused by the river's environment, a battery has been added within weight limits to ensure the buoy's normal operation.

[0019] This invention relates to the design of a geological observation drifting communication buoy shell for protection, center of gravity maintenance, and data transmission in environments with rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is the front view of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the lower hemispherical shell structure of the present invention.

[0023] The components include: 1. Buoy signal light; 2. Beidou antenna; 3. Camera; 4. Control module; 5. Beidou positioning and communication module; 6. Battery pack; 7. Ballast; 8. Water temperature gauge; 9. Water depth gauge; 10. Mounting plate; 11. Flange edge; 12. Upper hemisphere shell; 13. Lower hemisphere shell; 14. Outer shell. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] like Figures 1-3 As shown, the drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments in this embodiment includes an outer shell 14. A protrusion is provided at the center of the top surface of the outer shell 14. A buoy signal light 1 is installed on one side of the protrusion, and a camera 3 is installed on the other side of the protrusion. A mounting plate 10 is fixed horizontally inside the outer shell 14. A control module 4 and a Beidou positioning and communication module 5 are arranged above the mounting plate 10. A Beidou antenna 2 is also arranged on the mounting plate 10, with the upper part of the Beidou antenna 2 extending to the protrusion. A battery pack 6 is arranged below the mounting plate 10. A ballast 7 is arranged below the battery pack 6. A water temperature meter 8 and a water depth meter 9 are installed at the bottom of the ballast 7.

[0026] The outer shell 14 adopts a fiberglass spherical structure.

[0027] The wall thickness of the outer casing 14 is 4mm.

[0028] The outer shell 14 adopts a split structure, which includes an upper hemispherical shell 12 and a lower hemispherical shell 13 arranged opposite to each other. The outer rings of the upper hemispherical shell 12 and the lower hemispherical shell 13 are provided with flange edges 11, and the two flange edges 11 are fixed to the seals by fasteners.

[0029] The outer surface of the housing 14 is coated with a 2mm thick polyurea coating.

[0030] Adjustment lead pellets are distributed at the bottom of the inner casing 14.

[0031] The Beidou positioning and communication module 5 is installed above the waterline.

[0032] The water temperature sensor 8 and the water depth sensor 9 are located at the bottom of the housing 14, and the probes of the water temperature sensor 8 and the water depth sensor 9 extend to the bottom of the housing 14.

[0033] The diameter a of the outer casing 14 is 460 mm.

[0034] The buoy signal light 1 comes with a built-in 1800mAh 18650 battery.

[0035] The specific structure and function of the drifting buoy for environmental geological observation in rapid currents and waterfalls with weak satellite communication described in this invention are as follows:

[0036] The outer shell serves as the main body of the buoy, and its spherical shape ensures that the underwater wet surface of the buoy is free of sharp edges and protruding structures, preventing the buoy from getting stuck between mudflats and rocks during drifting and increasing the possibility of it being able to extricate itself from the swells after running aground. At the same time, the underwater spherical design avoids the buoy body from rotating around its own central axis due to uneven stress on the underwater structure, ensuring the stability of the buoy platform and improving the quality of camera imaging.

[0037] The buoy's main body is divided into an upper shell and a lower shell, which are bolted together by a circumferential flange 11 to ensure watertightness. A detachable lifting ring (not shown in the figure) can be installed on the flange 11 to facilitate the transportation and handling of the buoy. The buoy has a sealing function to ensure that the internal electronic equipment is protected from water immersion during the mission.

[0038] The outer shell is primarily made of high-strength fiberglass with a wall thickness of 4mm, meeting the requirements for corrosion resistance and lightweight yet high strength in the buoy's structural design. A 2mm polyurea coating is applied to the outer surface of the buoy to enhance its impact resistance and water resistance.

[0039] The bottom of the buoy's watertight compartment is equipped with adjusting lead weights (not shown in the diagram) to adjust the buoy's counterweight and center of gravity, ensuring the center of gravity is on the buoy's central axis. This ensures a uniform distribution of wave thrust in all directions when the buoy floats in water, guaranteeing the overall stability of the drifting communication buoy in complex aquatic environments and reducing factors affecting BeiDou signal transmission. By adjusting the buoy's equipment layout and lead weights, the difference between the buoy's center of gravity and buoyancy is achieved. Achieving a depth of 60mm ensures the stability of the buoy in the water.

[0040] When a buoy is slowly tilted at a small angle under the action of an external force (tilting moment), its center of gravity remains in its original position, and its volume of water displaced does not change. However, due to the change in the underwater volume of water displaced, the center of buoyancy shifts in the tilting direction, and the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity are no longer on the same vertical line. The buoyancy and gravity form a couple, causing the buoy to return to its original equilibrium position, i.e., the restoring moment M. R :

[0041]

[0042] When the roll angle is small, it can be approximated as sinφ = φ, and we have:

[0043]

[0044] in:

[0045] M R It is the restoring torque;

[0046] GZ is the restoring lever arm;

[0047] GM is the initial stability height;

[0048] Δ is the buoy's displacement;

[0049] Φ is the tilt angle;

[0050] The above formula is the initial stability formula.

[0051] Based on the relevant parameters of the buoy, the following calculations are performed:

[0052] The center of gravity G is below the center of stability M, M R The direction of the tilt is opposite to the direction of the roll. When the external force is small, the restoring torque will restore the buoy to its original equilibrium state and put it in a stable equilibrium state.

[0053] Regarding the stability of the buoy body, there is high initial stability. Its restoring torque is 0.4 Nm / °;

[0054] If the buoy is completely submerged in water and tilts at a certain angle, its stability depends entirely on the relative positions of its weight and center of gravity, as the weight, center of gravity, underwater displacement volume, and center of buoyancy remain unchanged. For this buoy, with its center of gravity below the underwater center of buoyancy, the restoring torque MR due to underwater tilting is opposite to the direction of tilt, allowing it to return to its original equilibrium state, thus achieving stable equilibrium (a self-sustaining structure).

[0055] The Beidou positioning and communication module 5 is installed above the buoy (above the waterline) for positioning and communication. It ensures normal Beidou communication even when the buoy's sway angle is less than 30°. The buoy's stability design ensures platform stability in complex water flow environments, thus guaranteeing communication and recording functions. Employing the Beidou positioning system, positioning information is sent periodically. After processing, the buoy's current position and historical drift trajectory can be displayed in real time, allowing test personnel to monitor the buoy's movement and promptly carry out buoy retrieval.

[0056] Camera 3 is mounted on top of the buoy, minimizing the protruding portion of the camera, ensuring waterproofing, preventing damage to the camera due to collisions in special circumstances, improving reliability during the buoy's working time, and recording and storing image data in real time.

[0057] The data acquisition and storage SD card and control board are installed inside the watertight compartment of the buoy, used for data processing and storage of camera data. A 1-second video clip from camera 3 is approximately 5MB, resulting in 18GB of data per hour and 432GB for 24 hours. A standard 512GB high-speed, high-quality video recording SD card is used, sufficient for 24-hour recording and storage and use of sensor and positioning information. A self-destruct mechanism is included, automatically destroying the buoy upon reaching a designated location or when the battery is depleted, ensuring no data leakage. To guarantee no information leakage and the reliability of the self-destruct mechanism, repeated functional tests were conducted on the self-destruct function during development and debugging, resulting in clear and detailed experimental records.

[0058] The thermometer 8 and the depth gauge 9 are installed at the bottom of the buoy's watertight compartment, enabling water depth measurement and surface water temperature monitoring, providing multiple observation functions for the buoy.

[0059] The BeiDou antenna 2 is placed inside the buoy's outer shell for safety protection. The shell is made of fiberglass to reduce the risk of damage from exposed antennas. The BeiDou antenna has undergone design optimizations, such as increasing bandwidth, to mitigate the impact of the installation method on BeiDou communication capabilities.

[0060] The data that drifting buoys need to transmit mainly includes: time, water depth, hydrological information, and location information. Current velocity and historical tracks are fitted using both time and location information to reduce the amount of data transmitted and increase the frequency of data transmission. The data includes: time (6 bytes, e.g., 151347, representing 15:13:47 on October 24, 2023); water depth (3 bytes, e.g., 083, representing a depth of 8.3m); water temperature (3 bytes, e.g., 167, representing a temperature of 16.7℃); location information (16 bytes, e.g., 2859486695046596, representing 28.594866゜E, 95.046596゜N); and the main information data is 28 bytes. After data storage, the relevant data is sent to the terminal platform for processing using BeiDou communication.

[0061] Equipped with an LED buoy signal light 1 at the top, featuring a warning flash, it can identify drifting buoys, facilitating downstream personnel in recovering the buoy and its data. The buoy signal light 1 is powered by an 1800mAh 18650 battery, ensuring 24-hour continuous operation without requiring additional connection to the cabin, thus reducing the need for openings in the buoy's outer shell.

[0062] The buoy's watertight compartment is equipped with a battery to ensure that all equipment on the buoy has a power supply of no less than 24 hours.

[0063] I. Equipment Power Consumption Analysis:

[0064] 1) The buoy signal light on the outside of the buoy body is equipped with an 1800mAh 18650 battery, which can meet the needs of about 20 days of use, and is not included in the power consumption.

[0065] 2) The short message transmission power consumption of Beidou communication and positioning equipment is 35W, and the standby power consumption is 12W. Based on the estimated normal operating information transmission frequency, the computational power consumption of Beidou-related equipment is 13W.

[0066] 3) The power consumption of the control board, water temperature sensor, and water depth sensor is relatively small and can be ignored;

[0067] 4) The average daily power consumption of the camera is calculated to be 5W.

[0068] II. Electrical load calculation:

[0069] To meet the requirement of continuous 24-hour operation: Considering the characteristics of each piece of equipment, a 24V voltage is adopted, powered by an internal lithium battery pack, which features high energy density, long standby time, and maintenance-free operation. A certain amount of standby power consumption and a power margin are reserved. Calculations are made based on the actual power consumption needs of the buoy under operating conditions, with a total power consumption of 20W. The buoy requires a battery with a total capacity of 20Ah to meet its power needs during operation. Considering that the buoy needs a certain amount of power during equipment debugging and pre-test preparation, the battery is rechargeable and has a power display function to ensure sufficient charge before use to meet operational requirements.

[0070] Furthermore, considering that the buoy will later expand its information collection capabilities or extend its operating time, the following calculations are made for battery pack 6 to address the increased power consumption under these circumstances, based on the power load demand:

[0071] 1) The buoy body operates normally for 24 hours, the battery pack capacity is 20Ah, the battery size is 200mm×120mm×75mm, and the weight is about 1.6kg;

[0072] 2) The buoy body operates normally for 48 hours, the battery pack capacity is 40Ah, the battery size is 200mm×150mm×100mm, and the weight is about 2.9kg;

[0073] 3) The buoy body operates normally for 72 hours, the battery pack capacity is 60Ah, the battery size is 200mm×180mm×140mm, and the weight is about 4.5kg;

[0074] Battery capacity can be increased without significantly affecting the stability of the buoy by reducing a certain amount of ballast inside the buoy.

[0075] To ensure that the buoy remains undamaged and continues to function normally in the target waters, such as when it falls from a waterfall, a drop test at a height of 4m was conducted to test the buoy's resistance to falling into the water, in accordance with the GB5869 life jacket and light standard.

[0076] The above description is an explanation of the present invention and not a limitation thereof. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims. Within the scope of protection of the present invention, any form of modification may be made.

Claims

1. A drifting buoy for geological observation in environments with rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication, characterized in that: The device includes an outer shell (14), on which a protrusion is provided at the center of the top surface. A buoy signal light (1) is installed on one side of the protrusion, and a camera (3) is installed on the other side of the protrusion. A mounting plate (10) is fixed horizontally inside the outer shell (14). A control module (4) and a Beidou positioning and communication module (5) are arranged above the mounting plate (10). A Beidou antenna (2) is also arranged on the mounting plate (10), and the upper part of the Beidou antenna (2) extends to the protrusion. A battery pack (6) is arranged below the mounting plate (10). A ballast (7) is arranged below the battery pack (6). A water temperature gauge (8) and a water depth gauge (9) are installed at the bottom of the ballast (7).

2. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell (14) adopts a fiberglass spherical structure.

3. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell (14) has a wall thickness of 4 mm.

4. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer shell (14) adopts a split structure. The outer shell (14) includes an upper hemispherical shell (12) and a lower hemispherical shell (13) arranged opposite to each other. The outer rings of the upper hemispherical shell (12) and the lower hemispherical shell (13) are provided with flange edges (11). The two flange edges (11) are fixed to the seals by fasteners.

5. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the outer shell (14) is coated with a 2mm thick polyurea coating.

6. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: Adjustment lead pellets are distributed at the bottom of the inner shell (14).

7. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The Beidou positioning and communication module (5) is installed above the waterline.

8. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The thermometer (8) and depth gauge (9) are located at the bottom of the outer casing (14), and the probes of the thermometer (8) and depth gauge (9) extend to the bottom of the outer casing (14).

9. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the outer shell (14) is 460 mm.

10. The drifting buoy for geological observation in rapid currents, high waterfalls, and weak satellite communication environments as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The buoy signal light (1) comes with a 1800mAh 18650 battery.

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