Buoyant UAV Sonar Scanning for Underwater Damage Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are limited to aerial assessments and cannot analyze underwater structures, and underwater mapping systems require ground transportation or maritime vessels, which are often inaccessible during disasters, delaying relief efforts and increasing damage.

Innovation Solution

An unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a buoyant platform, a SONAR device, and a camera, enabling it to land on water and perform underwater scans, providing topological maps and damage assessment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If unmanned aerial vehicles are used for aerial assessments, then accessibility to damaged roadways and waterways is improved, but the ability to analyze underwater structures is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to inaccessible areasVSAvoidunderwater analysis capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV is equipped with both aerial imaging capabilities (cameras) and underwater mapping capabilities (SONAR device), allowing it to perform both aerial assessments and underwater structure analysis with a single platform, eliminating the need for separate ground or maritime vehicles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If ground transportation or maritime vessels are used for underwater mapping, then underwater structure analysis is improved, but accessibility during disaster events is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunderwater mapping capabilityVSAvoidaccessibility to disaster zones

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The UAV acts as an intermediary platform that can access disaster zones where ground vehicles and maritime vessels cannot operate, then deploy SONAR equipment to perform underwater mapping, bridging the gap between aerial accessibility and underwater analysis capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If traditional underwater mapping systems are deployed, then underwater topological mapping is improved, but response time is reduced due to logistics planning and team preparation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunderwater topological mapping accuracyVSAvoidlogistics planning and preparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the SONAR mapping capability from traditional ground-based or vessel-based systems and integrates it directly onto the UAV platform, eliminating the need for separate logistics planning, team preparation, and equipment deployment processes required by conventional systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 rapid underwater mapping and damage assessment, facilitating pre-disaster mitigation and efficient delivery of relief aid by navigating inaccessible areas.

Implementation Method 1

Each landing gear of the pair of landing gears includes a buoyant elongated float

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

The SONAR device may include a 360-degree transducer or a side-scan transducer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSONAR: Sonar

Data Source

PatentUS12560714B2Unmanned aerial vehicle with underwater sonar scanning capability

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 HYDRONALIX INC

AI summary

An unmanned aerial system includes an unmanned aerial vehicle having a body and a primary propulsion system coupled to the body. The primary propulsion system includes at least one propeller and at least one motor coupled to the at least one propeller. The unmanned aerial system also includes a pair of landing gears coupled to the body of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Each landing gear of the pair of landing gears includes a buoyant elongated float. The unmanned aerial system also includes a SONAR device coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle.