Self-powered computing buoy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10668990-B2
Application number	US-201816033522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2018
Priority date	Jul 16, 2017
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A computing apparatus that is integrated within a flotation module, the system obtaining the energy required to power its computing operations from waves that travel across the surface of a body of water on which the flotation module sets. Additionally, the self-powered computing apparatus employs novel designs to utilize its close proximity to the body of water and/or to strong ocean winds to significantly lower the cost and complexity of cooling their computing circuits.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computational task processing system, comprising:
a buoyant computational task processor coupled to a first local phase array antenna, the buoyant computational task processor having a hull, a power take-off assembly for generating electricity from a movement of ocean waves, a plurality of computers, and a propulsion system; and
a first remote antenna;
wherein the first local phase array antenna is adapted to receive instructions from the first remote antenna and adapted to transmit results to the first remote antenna;
wherein the buoyant computational task processor has a draft greater than its largest horizontal width; and
wherein the plurality of computers are adapted to be powered by electricity generated by the power take-off assembly.

2. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of computers are rigidly mounted to the hull and the power take-off assembly is rigidly mounted to the hull.

3. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a second local antenna in communication with a second remote antenna, and wherein the second local antenna is adapted to transmit certain data to the second remote antenna.

4. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , wherein the first remote antenna is affixed to a land mass.

5. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , wherein the first remote antenna is adapted to transmit instructions to the first local phase array antenna via a satellite.

6. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of computers are adapted to process a plurality of computational tasks simultaneously.

7. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , wherein the phased array antenna is adapted to cover an area greater than fifty percent of a waterplane area of the buoyant computational task processor.

8. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , wherein the buoyant computational task processor includes a vertically oriented tube extending downward into a water column to stabilize the phased array antenna in pitch and roll.

9. The computational task processing system of claim 8 , wherein the vertically oriented tube has a draft of at least fifteen meters.

10. The computational task processing system of claim 8 , wherein the vertically oriented tube is rigidly affixed to the hull.

11. The computational task processing system of claim 8 , wherein the vertically oriented tube is elliptical in a radial cross section.

12. The computational task processing system of claim 8 , wherein the vertically oriented tube is rectangular is a radial cross section.

13. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , further comprising an energy management mechanism.

14. The computational task processing system of claim 13 , wherein the energy management mechanism is adapted to turn a selected one of the plurality of computers off when available electrical power falls below a predetermined electrical power level.

15. The computational task processing system of claim 13 , wherein the energy management mechanism is adapted to turn on a selected one of the plurality of computers when available electrical power exceeds a predetermined electrical power level.

16. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a wall separating an internal cavity of the buoyant computational task processor from an external environment.

17. The computational task processing system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of computers is inside the internal cavity.

18. The computational task processing system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of computers are immersed in a liquid in direct contact with the wall.

19. The computational task processing system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of computers are mounted to the wall.

20. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of computers is adapted to compute a cryptographic hash value.

21. The computational task processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a drone charging station.

Assignees

• Sheldon Coulson Garth Alexander
• Moffat Brian Lee
• Lone Gull Holdings Ltd

Inventors

• Sheldon-Coulson Garth Alexander
• Moffat Brian Lee

Classifications

• F03B13/24

  to produce a flow of air, e.g. to drive an air turbine {(F03B13/142 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F03B13/20

  wherein both members {, i.e. wom and rem} are movable relative to the sea bed or shore · CPC title

• H04L2209/38

  Electricity · mapped topic

• F05B2260/2241

  using fins or ribs · CPC title

• G09C1/00

  Apparatus or methods whereby a given sequence of signs, e.g. an intelligible text, is transformed into an unintelligible sequence of signs by transposing the signs or groups of signs or by replacing them by others according to a predetermined system (cryptographic typewriters G09C3/00) · CPC title