Drone-Tethered Sonar Vessel Stabilization for Small-Water Bathymetry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing unmanned systems for bathymetry on small bodies of water face challenges such as limited spatial and temporal resolution, difficulty in deploying and navigating through complex environments, and the need for manual operation from boat ramps, which can be costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A drone-tethered sonar system comprising a payload vessel equipped with sensors and a tethered unmanned drone that autonomously transports and propels the vessel, maintaining level attitude through a trim plate and fins, allowing for high-resolution bathymetric data collection without capsizing, and transmitting data via telemetry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional bathymetry methods use manned vessels, then operators can directly control survey operations, but operator safety is compromised and fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The payload vessel is equipped with an autopilot system that enables it to steer itself independently using a rudder, allowing the vessel to navigate and conduct surveys autonomously without requiring continuous manual control from operators, thereby improving safety while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control operations with an automated autopilot system that uses sensors and control algorithms to steer the vessel, eliminating the need for operators to directly control the vessel while maintaining precise navigation
2Area of stationary object
If satellites are used for large scale surveys, then coverage area is increased, but spatial and temporal resolution decreases for small water bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from aerial satellite sensing to water surface-level sensing by deploying a payload vessel that operates at the air-water interface, allowing sonar transducers to be positioned close to the seafloor while still being deployed from aerial drones, thus achieving high resolution for small water bodies
3Reliability
If drones are used for small waterbody surveys, then field operator safety is improved, but maintaining level attitude at various speeds becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a trim plate extending from the stern of the payload vessel, angled downward to provide a speed-dependent pitching moment that counteracts the natural pitch caused by drone towing forces, thereby maintaining the payload vessel in a level attitude across various speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The trim plate is strategically positioned at the stern of the payload vessel and weighted to create a localized counterbalancing effect that maintains level attitude without requiring complex active control systems throughout the entire vessel
4Productivity
If manned vessels are used for bathymetry, then real-time operator decision making is possible, but operational costs and crew fatigue increase
Solution Approach 1:
The payload vessel is equipped with an autopilot system that enables it to steer itself independently using a rudder, allowing the vessel to navigate and conduct surveys autonomously without requiring continuous manual control from operators, thereby improving safety while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The payload vessel design is UAS-agnostic, allowing any unmanned drone to tow the payload vessel without prior modification, enabling a single platform to serve multiple survey locations and conditions, thus reducing operational costs through versatility
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 efficient, cost-effective, and accurate bathymetric surveys in small water bodies with high spatial and temporal resolution, capable of navigating complex environments autonomously and avoiding obstacles, reducing pilot fatigue and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor or sensor suite can comprise a sonar transducer
Implementation Method 2
The trim plate can be angled downward aft of the stern thereby providing a speed-dependent pitching moment that maintains the payload vessel level as it is propelled by the drone
Data Source
AI summary
Various examples are provided related to autonomous unmanned drone-tethered sonar systems. In one embodiment, a bathy-drone system includes an unmanned payload vessel and an unmanned drone tethered to the payload vessel through the tether attachment point. The unmanned payload vessel can include a sensor or sensor suite coupled to a bottom of the payload vessel and a tether attachment point through which propulsive force can be applied to the payload vessel. The drone can autonomously transport the payload vessel to and from a survey location and autonomously propel the payload vessel along a survey path at the survey location.