Autonomous Buoy Mesh Network for Flying Boat Water Surface Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flying boats face challenges in water scooping operations due to limited real-time situational awareness of obstacles and structures on or piercing the water surface, especially in adverse weather conditions, which can lead to collisions and increased pilot workload.
Innovation Solution
Deploying a mesh communication network of autonomous buoys equipped with sensors and propulsors to detect obstacles, currents, and wave dynamics, establishing a radio frequency link with flying boats for real-time data transmission, and retrieving the buoys after the operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If visual cues and prior information are used for guidance, then pilot workload is reduced, but real-time situational awareness of obstacles and structures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces autonomous buoys as intermediary devices that float on the water surface and provide real-time data about obstacles, structures, and environmental conditions. These buoys act as mediators between the flying boat pilot and the water environment, transmitting critical information without requiring the pilot to directly observe or interpret complex visual cues. The buoys equiped with sensors, transceivers, and processors collect and relay data about wave dynamics, current velocity, obstacles, and structures, thereby improving real-time situational awareness while keeping the pilot's task manageable.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive sensor deployment is implemented, then measurement precision of water conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring function into multiple autonomous buoy units, each equipped with specific sensors for different parameters (accelerometers for wave motion, flow sensors for current velocity, depth sensors for water depth, obstacle detection sensors). Rather than concentrating all sensing capabilities in a single complex system, the functionality is segmented across multiple independent but coordinated buoys. Each buoy operates autonomously with its own processor and transceiver, yet collectively they provide comprehensive coverage of the water environment, improving measurement precision without creating a single point of complexity.
3Reliability
If autonomous buoys are deployed for real-time monitoring, then safety is improved, but loss of time for deployment and retrieval increases
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous buoys are designed to self-deploy and self-retrieve without requiring manual intervention. The buoys can be released from the flying boat and automatically disperse to their monitoring positions using their own propulsion systems. After completing their monitoring function, they autonomously navigate back to a retrieval position. This self-service capability significantly reduces the time required for deployment and retrieval compared to manual deployment, while maintaining continuous real-time monitoring throughout the process, thereby improving operational safety without excessive time loss.
4Reliability
If mesh communication network is established, then information transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each autonomous buoy is designed as a multi-functional unit that combines sensing, processing, communication, and navigation capabilities in a single device. The buoys use universal communication protocols and standardized transceivers that enable them to form a mesh network without requiring complex dedicated infrastructure. Each buoy can communicate with multiple other buoys and with the flying boat, providing redundant communication paths that improve reliability. The multi-functionality of each buoy reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby improving communication reliability while limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances safety by providing comprehensive real-time situational awareness, reducing pilot workload, and enabling safe water scooping operations even in challenging environments, while also reducing costs and time associated with scouting unknown waterways.
Implementation Method 1
a propulsor configured to propel the housing on or beneath the surface of the body of water
Implementation Method 2
an accelerometer configured to detect a wave motion
Implementation Method 3
a first sensor configured to detect a current velocity and a current direction
Implementation Method 4
a second sensor configured to detect a water depth or a range to an obstacle
Implementation Method 5
the communication link is a radio frequency link
Data Source
AI summary
A method for establishing a situational awareness of a surface of a body of water is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes deploying a plurality of autonomous buoys under or on the surface of the body of water; and scattering the plurality of autonomous buoys to form a mesh communication network.