Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Buoy Transition Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deploying buoys and oceanic monitoring equipment to remote locations is costly due to the need for ship transportation and personnel, as most buoys require external vessels for placement.
Innovation Solution
A combined autonomous underwater vehicle and buoy device that can travel autonomously to a desired location, transition into a vertical buoy configuration, and operate as a stationary buoy, utilizing buoyancy control, fins for propulsion, and a deployable weight to adjust orientation, along with an internal control system for navigation and data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If buoys are transported on external vessels to desired locations, then deployment accuracy is improved, but deployment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoy is equipped with an autonomous underwater vehicle that enables self-navigation to the deployment location. The vehicle uses propulsion systems, control surfaces, and navigation equipment to autonomously travel to the target coordinates, eliminating the need for external vessel transportation and reducing deployment costs while maintaining accurate positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The buoy incorporates a transformable structure that can change its configuration between horizontal (AUV mode) and vertical (buoy mode). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same device to function as both a mobile autonomous vehicle and a stationary buoy, optimizing both deployment accuracy and cost-effectiveness
2Reliability
If buoys require external vessels for deployment, then deployment reliability is improved, but operational flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous underwater vehicle performs self-deployment by navigating to the target location independently. This eliminates dependency on external vessels, enhancing operational flexibility for remote or difficult-to-reach locations while maintaining reliable deployment through integrated navigation and control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The device serves multiple functions: it operates as an autonomous vehicle for deployment and repositioning, then transforms into a stationary buoy for monitoring. This multi-functionality increases operational flexibility without compromising deployment reliability
3Ease of manufacture
If buoys are deployed from shore, then deployment cost decreases, but deployment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical deployment from vessels with an autonomous navigation system. The AUV uses electronic navigation, propulsion, and control systems to achieve precise positioning at the target location, maintaining deployment precision while enabling cost-effective shore-based deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The buoy performs self-positioning to the exact target coordinates using its autonomous navigation capabilities. This self-service approach ensures precise deployment without requiring expensive vessel-based operations, resolving the contradiction between cost and precision
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
Enables inexpensive and efficient deployment, repositioning, and data collection, reducing ship time and personnel costs while allowing for easy recovery and reconfiguration of the buoy device.
Implementation Method 1
wherein said device body is configured to selectively cause an increase in the buoyancy of the device body so as to cause the device body to descend vertically and to cause a decrease in the buoyancy of the device body so as to cause the device body to ascend vertically
Implementation Method 2
wherein said device body is configured to generate lift that moves the device body horizontally in response to the device body being caused to ascend and descend vertically
Implementation Method 3
a deployable weight integral with said device body, wherein said deployable weight is selectably moveable from a first position between the bow and stern of the device body to a second position in which the deployable weight is tethered to but outside of the profile of the device body in a manner which causes center of mass of the device body to move sufficiently aft to cause the device body to move from the horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation
Data Source
AI summary
A combined autonomous underwater vehicle and buoy device that may travel underwater in a horizontal orientation as an underwater glider to a desired location and then, at the desired location, move into a vertical orientation and operate as a buoy. The combined autonomous underwater vehicle and buoy device includes an elongated device body having a ballast tank, a plurality of fins, and a deployable weight. While in water, the device body may operate the ballast tank to selectively increase its buoyancy to cause vertical descent and decrease its buoyancy to cause vertical ascent, with the fins generating lift that moves the device body horizontally from this vertical motion. To move to the vertical orientation, the device body may reposition the deployable weight to adjust the center of mass of the device body sufficiently to cause the device body to move from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation.