Patent classifications
B63G8/00
BIONIC FISH SINGLE-DEGREE-OF-FREEDOM MODULAR STRUCTURE BASED ON CAM MECHANISM
Disclosed is a bionic fish single-degree-of-freedom modular structure based on a cam mechanism. The bionic fish single-degree-of-freedom modular structure comprises a plurality of modules which are sequentially connected, wherein the foremost one of the modules is a fish head module, and the last one of the modules is a fish tail module; each module in the modules comprises a rack, a rotating shaft is arranged in the center of the rack in a penetrating mode, the second end of the rotating shaft of the previous module is connected to the first end of the rotating shaft of the next module through a universal coupling, the next module is connected with the previous module through a swing connecting piece, and the effect that the modules swing in a plane is achieved, wherein the swing connecting pieces comprises cylindrical cams, pin shafts, first bearings and second bearings; and through combination of the modules, the swimming postures of fishes can be achieved. A single-degree-of-freedom modular bionic robot fish is designed according to the swimming postures of sailfish and can be driven by a single motor, and the fluctuation postures of the bodies of the fishes are achieved through motion transmission of a mechanical structure; and modular design is adopted, and different swimming postures can be achieved by replacing the modules.
Autonomous underwater system for a 4D environmental monitoring
An autonomous underwater system for environmental monitoring including a multidisciplinary underwater station including onboard instrumentation, at least one autonomous modular underwater vehicle movable inside an area to be monitored along an assigned route, and at least one external instrumental modulus which can be connected to the vehicle, wherein the multidisciplinary underwater station includes a docking area, an interface system, an equipping system for supplying the vehicle with instrumental moduli, and a management system.
Extended duration autonomous craft
Autonomous craft capable of extended duration operations as lighter-than-air craft, having the ability to alight on the surface of a body of water and generate hydrogen gas for lift via electrolysis using power derived from a photovoltaic system, as well as methods of launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a deployable envelope from a surface of a body of water.
Gliding robotic fish navigation and propulsion
A robotic submersible includes a housing having a body and a tail. In another aspect, a pump and a pump tank adjust the buoyancy of a submersible housing. In a further aspect, a first linear actuator controls the pump and/or a buoyancy, and/or a second linear actuator controls a position of a battery and/or adjusts a center of gravity. Another aspect includes a pump and at least one linear actuator that control gliding movements of the housing. In still a further aspect, a motor couples a tail with a body, such that the motor controls the movements of the tail to create a swimming movement. Moreover, an additional aspect provides a controller selectively operating the pump, first actuator, second actuator, and motor to control when swimming and gliding movements occur.
Moving tools on offshore structures with a walking carriage
A carriage arranged to walk along an elongate member while carrying a payload includes individually-operable clamps that are spaced axially along a common longitudinal axis. An axially-extensible frame connects the clamps. At least one of the clamps is attached to the frame via a rotationally-displaceable coupling for relative angular movement between that clamp and the frame about the longitudinal axis. The carriage can carry the payload to a subsea worksite by opening and closing the clamps to release and grip the elongate member in a sequence that includes moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and moving the trailing clamp forward when the leading clamp is closed. At the worksite, installation force can be applied to the payload in a forward direction by moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and the trailing clamp is closed.
SYSTEM FOR HARVESTING SEAWEED AND GENERATING ETHANOL THEREFROM
A floatable-material harvester is disclosed, including vacuum source, transport hose, and a floatable-material receiver. In one embodiment, the transport hose has at least one air inductor/intake along its length, which allows air to enter the transport hose to accelerate its contents, by negative pressure air induction. In another embodiment, a transport hose has at least one floatable-material thruster along its length, comprised of at least one nozzle, which provides pressurized fluid (e.g., air or water) in the direction of the flow of the harvested floatable material by positive pressure induction. A method is disclosed whereby the floatable material harvester is used to harvest an absorbent material (e.g., wood chips, straw, perlite, zeolite, polypropylene mesh, titanate nanofibres) that has absorbed a pollutant (e.g., oil, solvent, radioactive isotopes) from a beach or in water.
Multi-functional aquatic vehicle and system thereof
A multi-functional aquatic vehicle comprises a main body. The main body comprises: a propulsion system, comprising at least one propeller for changing a motion attitude of the main body; a camera system, comprising at least one camera; a communication system, comprising a signal receiving module for receiving an external signal detected by the aquatic vehicle and a signal transmitting module for transmitting a signal to an external control system; and a control system, for controlling an operating state of the propulsion system, adjusting a capturing angle of the camera system and controlling internal and external communication of the communication system. A towing hook device comprises: a driving system, a connecting mechanism and a towing hook mechanism. The driving system drives the connecting mechanism to rotate such that the towing hook mechanism turns over or rotates to release a load.
Autonomous ROVs With Offshore Power Source That Can Return To Recharge
A resident remotely operated vehicle may be deployed subsea by deploying a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) (200) configured to be disposed and remain resident subsea for an extended time where the ROV comprises an ROV electrical power connector port (202) to be operatively connected to an electrical power supply (700) dedicated to the ROV. An RTMS configured to be disposed subsea for an extended time is also deployed subsea (210), typically proximate the ROV. A subsea docking hub subsea is also deployed subsea proximate the RTMS and operatively connected to the ROV and the RTMS. In addition, an umbilical is connected from the subsea docking hub to a subsea structure and a signal supplied from the subsea structure to the ROV.
VEHICLE SYSTEM COMPRISING A MOTHER SHIP AND AN UNMANNED WATERCRAFT, AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING AN UNMANNED WATERCRAFT
A vehicle system may include a mother ship and an unmanned water vehicle that can be received on the mother ship. To recover the unmanned water vehicle, a floating body connected to the mother ship via a line can be lowered into water. A catch device for catching the line may be positioned on the unmanned water vehicle. The floating body may transmit location signals that can be received and used by the unmanned water vehicle to navigate towards the floating body. The unmanned water vehicle may be configured to circle the floating body, and the catch device of the unmanned water vehicle may then catch the line to create a connection between the mother ship and the unmanned water vehicle.”
Docking station for underwater robot
The present disclosure relates to a docking station whereby an underwater robot can be maintained, repaired and managed all the time. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a docking station can be provided that may comprise: a receiving unit configured to receive an underwater robot therein and positioned under a surface of water; a maintenance unit provided on the receiving unit and positioned above the surface of the water; and a conveyor unit configured to convey the underwater robot from the receiving unit to the maintenance unit.