Granted Patent B1

US 12,454,338 · App. 16/974,039 · Granted Oct 28, 2025

Inventors: Eric Seeley (Seabeck, WA); Tyler Paine (Edmonds, WA); Jacob Snow (Bremerton, WA); Logan Harris (Silverdale, WA); Jose Ruiz (Bremerton, WA); Wade Kempf (Bremerton, WA); Andrew Roth (Poulsbo, WA)

Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

B63G8/001B63B3/02B63B34/00B63B45/00B63G8/04B63H5/07B64U10/14B64U10/25B64U20/40G05D1/0088H01F7/0252B63B43/00B63G8/18F16B2200/83

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A configurable autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a first module, wherein the configurable autonomous vehicle comprises an UUV, wherein the first module of the UUV has a first color;

a second module, wherein the second module of the UUV has a second color, and wherein the first color and the second color indicate an unique function;

a joint mechanically and electrically coupling the first module and said second module; and,

an externally mounted apparatus magnetically coupled to the UUV, wherein the apparatus comprises an external magnet attachment mechanism, wherein the external magnet attachment mechanism further comprises a release mechanism, wherein the apparatus comprises an antenna and a light source, wherein the apparatus further comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a propeller, a thruster, a rotor assembly, a sensor, a control surface, a communications module, a grappling device, a power supply, a ballast, and a camera.

2. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of modules; and,

a plurality of joints mechanically and electrically interconnecting the plurality of modules.

3. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control surface is moveable.

4. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises:

storage of information indicative of characteristics of said apparatus; and,

a bus for communicating said information to said vehicle.

5. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:

a data bus for routing commands and data throughout the said vehicle.

6. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the data bus comprises a CAN bus.

7. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first module further comprises a sensor module, wherein the sensor module is selected from a group consisting of: a chemical analysis instrument, a hydrological measurement instrument, a geologic measurement instrument, and a magnetometer.

8. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first module includes an exterior hull, and wherein the exterior hull is manufactured using additive manufacturing.

9. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first module further includes an engineering fluid located in an interior volume of the first module.

10. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the engineering fluid absorbs heat generated by an electronic component of the first module.

11. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the external magnet attachment mechanism attaches the autonomous vehicle to a separate device.

12. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the device is a vessel.

13. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the device is a fixed structure.

14. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

15. A configurable autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a first module including a vehicle command system, wherein the vehicle command system comprises a communications system, wherein the configurable autonomous vehicle comprises an UUV;

a second module including a vehicle propulsion system;

a propeller magnetically coupled to said second module; and,

a control surface located on an exterior of the vehicle, wherein the control surface is magnetically coupled to the exterior of the vehicle.

16. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising:

a third module.

17. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising:

a plurality of additional modules.

18. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising:

a mechanism for mechanically coupling the first module and the second module.

19. The configurable autonomous vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising:

a mechanism for electrically coupling the first module and the second module.

20. A configurable autonomous vehicle, comprising:

at least one apparatus mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle using a magnet, wherein the configurable autonomous vehicle comprises an UUV, wherein the at least one apparatus comprises a release mechanism, wherein the at least one apparatus further comprises an antenna and a light source, wherein the at least one apparatus further comprises a device selected from a group consisting of: a propeller, a thruster, a rotor assembly, a sensor, a control surface, a communications module, a grappling device, a power supply, a ballast, and a camera.

21. The autonomous vehicle of claim 20 , further comprising:

a mechanism for moving the apparatus.

22. The autonomous vehicle of claim 20 , wherein the at least one apparatus further comprises:

storage for storing data about the apparatus;

a command system for operating the vehicle; and

a bus, coupled to the apparatus and to the command system for routing the data to the command system.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (12)

References Cited (175)