IP Library Granted Patent US 7,007,626
Granted Patent B2
US 7,007,626 · App. 11/170,562 · Granted Mar 7, 2006

Amphibious robot devices

Assignee: Nekton Research LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,007,626
App. No.
11/170,562
Granted
Mar 7, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

Devices for navigating in a fluid medium having a solid boundary include a vehicle body and a fin attached to the vehicle body. The fin is configured to oscillate relative to the body such that interaction between the fin and the fluid medium produces propulsive forces that propel the vehicle body in a desired direction in the fluid medium. The fin is also configured to rotate relative to the body along a transverse axis such that engagement between the fin and the solid boundary propels the vehicle body in a desired direction on the solid boundary.

Claims (55)

1. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:

a body;

a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium and/or the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and

a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;

wherein the neutralizing device includes an explosive device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the object is a mine.

3. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:

a body;

a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium and/or the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and

a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;

wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by electrically treating the object by applying an electric charge or current to the object.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the object is a mine.

5. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:

a body;

a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium and/or the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and

a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;

wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by magnetically treating the object.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by magnetically treating the object by generating an magnetic signal the magnetic signal including an electromagnetic pulse.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the object is a mine.

8. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:

a body;

a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium and/or the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and

a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;

wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by triggering self-destruction of the object;

wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by triggering self-destruction of the object using generation of a signal detectable by the object; and

wherein the signal detectable by the object includes at least one of a vibration signal, an acoustic signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the object is a mine.

10. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:

a body;

a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium and/or the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and

a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;

wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by triggering self-destruction of the object; and

wherein the neutralizing device is adapted to neutralize the object by triggering self-destruction of the object using electromagnetic treatment.

11. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:

a body;

a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium and/or the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object; and

a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object;

wherein the device is adapted to at least partly bury the neutralizing unit.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein:

the sediment displacing unit is configured to fluidize the sediment; and

the device is adapted to insert the neutralizing unit into the fluidized sediment.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the neutralizing unit includes an explosive charge.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the object is a mine.

15. A device for neutralizing an object at least partly covered with sediment in a fluid medium, the device comprising:

a body;

a sediment displacing unit mounted on the body, wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to interact with the fluid medium and/or the sediment to displace the sediment covering the object, the sediment displacing unit including:

a selectively extendable tube having a current outlet; and

a pump configured to direct the fluid medium through the tube and away from the sediment displacing unit through the current outlet; and

a neutralizing unit mounted on the body and configured to neutralize the object.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the sediment displacing unit includes an extending mechanism operative to extend the tube.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the sediment displacing unit is configured to fluidize the sediment.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein:

the sediment displacing unit is configured to fluidize the sediment; and

the device is adapted to insert the neutralizing unit into the fluidized sediment.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein the object is a mine.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 22, 2008
From: NEKTON RESEARCH LLC
To: IROBOT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 022015/0857 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 1084833000 · May 18, 2004
Provisional Application 6047162600 · May 19, 2003
Related Publication 20050235898A1 · Oct 27, 2005