System and apparatus for attaching and transporting an autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11524757-B1
Application number	US-202117300071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 25, 2021
Priority date	Sep 12, 2019
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The vehicle can include a mechanisms that magnetically attaches to a ferry vehicle for transport to the location of use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for releasing an autonomous UUV from a ferry, comprising the steps of:
locating a first diametrically magnetized magnet having both a first polarity and an opposite polarity in an interior volume of said autonomous UUV;
coupling a second diametrically magnetized magnet having both said first polarity and said opposite polarity, on an exterior portion of the ferry such that said opposite polarity of said second magnet is proximate said first polarity of said first magnet;
rotating at least one of said first magnet and said second magnet;
halting rotation of said magnet when said opposite polarity of said first magnet is proximate said opposite polarity of said second magnet; and,
releasing said autonomous UUV from said ferry.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of rotating said first magnet further comprises the step of:
coupling said first diametrically magnetized magnet to a dc motor.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of releasing said autonomous UUV further comprises the steps of:
sliding a plurality of pins coupled to a weight in a plurality of slots located on an exterior of said autonomous UUV during the step of rotating said first magnet; and,
clearing said plurality of pins from said plurality of slots during the step of halting said rotation.

4. The method for releasing the autonomous UUV of claim wherein the step of releasing said autonomous UUV further comprises the step of:
uncoiling a spring coupled to a plurality of pins.

5. The method of releasing the autonomous UUV of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
providing a mechanism to prevent the autonomous UUV from rotating during release.

6. An apparatus for transporting and ferrying an autonomous UUV, comprising:
a first diametrically magnetized magnet having both a first polarity and an opposite polarity in an interior volume of said autonomous UUV;
a second diametrically magnetized magnet having both said first polarity and said opposite polarity, placed on a ferry apparatus such that said opposite polarity of said second magnet is proximate said first polarity of said first magnet;
a mechanism for rotating at least one of said first magnet and said second magnet; and,
a device for releasing the autonomous UUV by halting rotation of said at least one magnet when said opposite polarity of said first magnet is proximate said opposite polarity of said second magnet.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a spring to release the autonomous UUV from said ferry apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said mechanism further comprises a dc motor having a rotating drive shaft coupled to said first magnet.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said mechanism further comprises a microcontroller coupled to a data bus and to said dc motor for providing commands to said dc motor to rotate said first magnet.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said device for halting rotation of said first magnet comprises a mechanical stop.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said device for halting rotation of said first magnet comprises a Hall sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a plurality of pins coupled to said ferry apparatus;
a plurality of slots located proximate an exterior of said autonomous UUV and sized to accept said pins; and,
clearing area located at a terminus of each of said plurality of slots and sized larger than said pins.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
a plurality of pins coupled to the autonomous UUV;
a plurality of slots located on an exterior of said ferry apparatus and sized to accept said pins; and,
clearing area located at a terminus of each of said plurality of slots and sized larger than said pins.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said autonomous UUV comprises a substantially spherical body.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autonomous UUV comprises a substantially spherical body.

16. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said autonomous UUV includes a propulsion system comprising:
a propeller located on the exterior of the autonomous UUV; and,
a drive system located within the autonomous UUV, wherein the propeller and the drive system are magnetically coupled.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said autonomous UUV includes a propulsion system comprising:
a propeller located on the exterior of the autonomous UUV; and,
a drive system located within the autonomous UUV, wherein the propeller and the drive system are magnetically coupled.

Assignees

• Us Navy

Inventors

• Seeley Eric
• Guild Jennifer

Classifications

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B63H2023/342

  comprising couplings, e.g. resilient couplings; Couplings therefor · CPC title

• B63H23/34 Primary

  Propeller shafts; Paddle-wheel shafts; Attachment of propellers on shafts · CPC title

• B63G2008/004

  autonomously operating · CPC title

• B63G8/001 Primary

  Underwater vessels adapted for special purposes, e.g. unmanned underwater vessels; Equipment specially adapted therefor, e.g. docking stations (self-propelled or direction controlled diving chambers with mechanical link to a base B63C11/42) · CPC title