AQUATIC DEVICE WITH HANDHELD PIECE AND DRONE

Abstract

The present invention describes a drone that is launched from a handheld piece and may be navigated by controls that are positioned on the handheld piece in any direction at varying speeds. After the drone is launched the operator of the handheld piece deploys a hook stowed in the drone that descends into the water. Although the present invention is most suitable for fishing it will be readily apparent that there are several other important fields of use where this invention may be beneficial by substituting the hook with other components.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A fishing apparatus comprising: (a) a hand piece, comprising a first power source, herein termed as the main power source, a first communication unit, herein termed as the main communication unit, to send and receive wireless signals, a first control unit, here in termed as the main control unit, for controlling and coordinating operation of the fishing apparatus, one or more input devices to input user commands for controlling the operation of fishing apparatus, and an output device to display the status of the fishing apparatus (b) an aquatic drone, comprising means for maintaining a portion of its body above water when the said aquatic drone is placed into a body of water, a second power source, herein termed as the drone power source, a second communication unit, herein termed as the drone communication unit, for sending and receiving wireless signals, a second control unit, herein termed as the drone control unit, for controlling and coordinating operations of the said aquatic drone, and means for moving and steering in water in any lateral directions; (c) a first section of fishing line, connecting to both the said hand piece and the said aquatic drone; and (d) a fishing hook; wherein the said hand piece further comprising means for reeling in and out the said section of fishing line, and herein the said aquatic drone further comprising means for holding and deploying the said fishing hook.

7. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a second section of fishing line, wherein the said second section of fishing line is connected to the said fishing hook.

8. The fishing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the said aquatic drone's means for holding and selectively releasing the fishing hook into water comprises: a compartment located in the lower half of the aquatic drone, wherein the said second section of fishing line and the said fishing hook is stored, herein one end of the second section of fishing line is fastened to the aquatic drone, and the other end of the second section of fishing line is fastened to the fishing hook, and a compartment hatch that can be opened and closed and is controlled by the drone control unit, herein when the hatch is open, the second section of the fishing line and the said fishing hook can be lowered into water.

9. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the aquatic drone has means to be detached from the said first section of fishing line.

10. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the aquatic drone has an outer shape selected from a spheroidal shape, a near-spheroidal shape, an ovoidal shape, and a near-ovoidal shape.

11. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the aquatic drone has an outer shape of a spherical shape or a near-spherical shape.

12. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the said hand piece further comprises means for propelling the said aquatic drone forward and launching it to a distance from the hand piece.

13. The fishing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the said hand piece's means for propelling the said aquatic drone forward to a distance comprises a cup structure located at the top portion of the hand piece, herein the shape and the size of the cup structure matches that of the said aquatic drone, such that the said aquatic drone can be partially fit inside the said cup structure and can be propelled forward to a distance when a casting motion is applied to the said hand piece.

14. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the said aquatic drone's means for maintaining a portion of its body above water comprises a section of the aquatic drone being a hollow structure or a structure comprising a material having lower mass density than water.

15. The fishing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the said aquatic drone's means for maintaining a portion of its body above water comprises a section of the aquatic drone being a structure comprising a foam made from spray paint.

16. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the said aquatic drone's means for moving and steering comprises: two propellers located inside or on the surface of the aquatic drone, two motors located in the aquatic drone, each of the two motors connected to one of the said two propellers, wherein the speed and rotational direction of each of the two motors can be varied independently, and wherein the said drone control unit is electronically connected to the said two motors and controls the rotational direction and speed of each of the said two motors.

17. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the hand piece's means for reeling in and out the said first section of fishing line connected to the said aquatic drone comprises a reel, a reel crank, and a reel release trigger.

18. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of the input devices comprises a joystick.

19. The fishing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the joystick accepts user inputs of the moving direction of the said aquatic drone.

20. The fishing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the joystick accepting user inputs of moving speed of the said aquatic drone.

21. The fishing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the output device is a LCD screen mounted on the said hand piece.

22. The fishing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the LCD screen is an LCD touch screen, herein the LCD touch screen also serves as an input device.

23. The fishing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein information displayed on the LCD screen comprises: a main battery indicator, a drone battery indicator, a main signal indicator, a control to release the second section of fishing line and the fishing hook from the aquatic drone, a directional controller for the aquatic drone, and a slider indicator for controlling the speed of movement of the aquatic drone.

24. The fishing apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the said aquatic drone further comprises an illumination beacon and a digital camera capable of capturing optical images, herein the captured optical images can be transmitted by the said drone communication unit and received by the said main communication unit and be displayed by the said LCD screen.

25. An aquatic apparatus comprising: (a) a hand piece, comprising: a first power source, herein termed as the main power source, a first communication unit, herein termed as the main communication unit, to send and receive wireless signals, a first control unit, here in termed as the main control unit, for controlling and coordinating operation of the fishing apparatus, one or more input devices to input user commands for controlling the operation of aquatic apparatus, and an output device to display the status of the fishing apparatus (b) an aquatic drone, comprising means for maintaining a portion of its body above water when the said aquatic drone is placed into a body of water, a second power source, herein termed as the drone power source, a second communication unit, herein termed as the drone communication unit, for sending and receiving wireless signals, a second control unit, herein termed as the drone control unit, for controlling and coordinating operations of the said aquatic drone, means for moving and steering in water in any lateral directions; and a sonar sensor or an array of sonar sensors.

26. An aquatic apparatus comprising: (a) a hand piece, comprising: a first power source, herein termed as the main power source, a first communication unit, herein termed as the main communication unit, to send and receive wireless signals from the said aquatic drone, a first control unit, here in termed as the main control unit, for controlling and coordinating operation of the aquatic apparatus, one or more input devices to input user commands for controlling the operation of fishing apparatus, and an output device to display the status of the aquatic apparatus; (b) an aquatic drone, comprising means for maintaining a portion of its body above water when the said aquatic drone is placed into a body of water, a second power source, herein termed as the drone power source, a second communication unit, herein termed as the drone communication unit, for sending and receiving wireless signals, a second control unit, herein termed as the drone control unit, for controlling and coordinating operation of the said aquatic drone, means for moving and steering in water in any lateral directions, and a robotic arm capable of mechanically grabbing objects; and (c) a section of flexible line or rope, connected to the said aquatic drone and the said hand piece.

27. The aquatic device according to claim 26, where the said aquatic drone further comprises a illumination beacon and a digital camera capable of capturing optical images.

28. The aquatic device according to claim 26, where the said aquatic drone further comprises a sonar sensor or an array of sonar sensors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of an embodiment of the handheld piece.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the main components of an embodiment of the aquatic drone.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of an embodiment of the handheld piece.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a right side perspective view of an embodiment of the handheld piece.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the handheld piece in FIG. 3 with an embodiment of the aquatic drone.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the handheld piece in FIG. 3 after manually launched the aquatic drone.

[0024] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the handheld piece in FIG. 3 to show all the major features and the internal and external components.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a left perspective view of the upper part of the handheld piece in FIG. 3 without the aquatic drone.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a front view of an embodiment of the aquatic drone.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the aquatic drone in FIG. 10.

[0028] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the aquatic drone in FIG. 10 to show all the internal and external components.

[0029] FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the control board and LCD touch display.

[0030] FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the aquatic drone with a robotic grasping arm deployed.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

[0031] For a more complete understanding of the present invention parts, reference is now made to the following descriptions: [0032] 010Handheld piece control unit. [0033] 011Handheld piece power source. [0034] 012Handheld piece communication unit. [0035] 013Input devices. [0036] 014Output device. [0037] 020Aquatic drone control unit. [0038] 021Aquatic drone power source. [0039] 022Aquatic drone communication unit. [0040] 023Sensing Devices. [0041] 024Aquatic drone signal light. [0042] 025Fishing hook deployment control. [0043] 026Motors and propellers. [0044] 100The handheld piece. [0045] 101Handheld piece handle upper section. [0046] 102Handheld piece handle lower section. [0047] 103Lower section of case. [0048] 104Reel. [0049] 105Reel crank. [0050] 106Lateral support for reel release trigger. [0051] 107Reel release trigger. [0052] 108LCD touch display. [0053] 109Mounting frame LCD display top. [0054] 110Mounting frame LCD display bottom. [0055] 111Mounting frame LCD display back. [0056] 112Joy stick. [0057] 113Upper section of case. [0058] 114Decorative front panel. [0059] 115Split section of handheld piece. [0060] 116Middle split section of rod. [0061] 117Split section for launching pod. [0062] 118The holding chamber of the drone [0063] 119Handheld piece fishing line. [0064] 120A series of stabilization rings. [0065] 121The upper part of the handheld piece. [0066] 200The drone. [0067] 201Translucent dome. [0068] 202Printed circuit board. [0069] 203Drone external shell top half. [0070] 204Battery. [0071] 205Drone motor for line release and uptake. [0072] 206Magnetic coupling and rotating of the drone motor for line release and uptake. [0073] 207First drone propulsion motor. [0074] 208Magnetic coupling and rotating of the first drone propulsion motor. [0075] 209Magnetic coupler of propeller to first drone propulsion motor. [0076] 210Propeller of the first drone propulsion motor. [0077] 211Second drone propulsion motor. [0078] 212Magnetic coupler and rotating of the second drone propulsion motor. [0079] 213Magnetic coupler of propeller to the second drone propulsion motor. [0080] 214Propeller of the second drone propulsion motor. [0081] 215Spindle for line release. [0082] 216Pressure roller for securing line to spindle. [0083] 217Polymer support and mounting frame for spindle. [0084] 218Drone bay control level. [0085] 219The inside part of the drone bay control level. [0086] 220Right bay access door to hock and bay. [0087] 221Left bay access door to hock and bait. [0088] 222Chassis for the drone. [0089] 223Drone external shell bottom half. [0090] 224Secondary light on the bottom of the drone. [0091] 225Hatch. [0092] 226Hook. [0093] 227Drone fishing line. [0094] 228Drone LED. [0095] 300The control board and LCD touch display. [0096] 301Main battery indicator. [0097] 302Battery indicator for the drone. [0098] 303Main controller transmitter signal to drone. [0099] 304Illumination on/off switch for drone beacon. [0100] 305Control to release hook and bait from the bottom bay of the drone. [0101] 306Rainbow directional controller for the drone. [0102] 307Slider indicator for controlling the power of the motors and the speed of movement of the drone. [0103] 308Sinker line gauge. [0104] 309The fish icon. [0105] 401Robotic arm. [0106] 402Grabbing mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0107] The following detailed description includes preferred embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

[0108] The fishing device in the present invention comprises a handheld piece and a remotely controlled aquatic drone. FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting the electronic components of an embodiment of the handheld piece. The handheld piece comprises a power source (011), a control unit (010), a communication unit (012), one or more input devices (013), and an output device (014). In one embodiment, the power source (011) is a portable rechargeable battery, such as a lithium ion or lithium polymer cell. The control unit (010) is a separate electronic assembly that is incorporated directly into the handheld piece and accessible to the operator through one or more input devices (013). Embodiments of input devices include switches, buttons, dials, keyboards, joysticks, touch screens, and other type of input devices. The control unit (010) is also connected to the communication unit (012), which is in communication with the aquatic drone through wired or wireless signals. The output device (014) may comprises LCD displays, LED indicators, or other visual or audio output devices to provide system status and information to the user.

[0109] FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting the electronic components of an embodiment of the aquatic drone. The aquatic drone comprises a drone power source (021), a drone control unit (020), a drone communication unit (022), and components for moving and steering, such as motors and propellers (026). The aquatic drone may also comprise a fishing hook storing and deploying mechanism (025) and sensing devices (023), such as CCD cameras and SONARs. The drone communication (022) is connected with the handheld piece communication unit (012) via wireless or wired signal transmission. It may receive commands from the handheld piece and transmit the status and sensing data of the aquatic drone. The aquatic drone may also comprise an LED light to signal the position of the aquatic drone.

[0110] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a physical embodiment of the handheld piece with a left side perspective view (FIG. 3) and a right side perspective view (FIG. 4). As shown in these drawings, the handheld piece may retain the form of a fishing rod while incorporating the electronic components in its structure. FIG. 5 shows the handheld piece in combination with the spherical aquatic drone before the aquatic drone is launched. Here the aquatic drone is held in a cup-like holding chamber at the top of the handheld piece. FIG. 6 shows the handheld piece in combination with the spherical aquatic drone after the aquatic drone is manually propelled from the cup-like structure.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 7, this is an exploded view of the handheld piece to show its major futures and the internal and external parts.

[0112] The handheld piece 100 has a handheld piece handle upper section 101 and handheld piece handle lower section 102 that may be any material or form that lends a more comfortable ability to hold the device. There are a lower section of case 103 and upper section of case 113 houses the electronics (reel 104, reel crank 105, lateral support for reel release trigger 106, reel release trigger 107, LCD touch display 108, mounting frame LCD display top 109, mounting frame LCD display bottom 110, mounting frame LCD display back 111, joy stick 112, decorative front panel 114 and reel 117).

[0113] The upper part of the handheld piece 121 consists of split section of handheld piece 115, middle split section of handheld piece 116, split section for launching pod 117 and the holding chamber 118 to house the aquatic drone. The handheld piece fishing line 119 extends threaded through a series of stabilization rings 120 and then enters through the back of the holding chamber of the aquatic drone.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 8, this is a left perspective view of the upper part of the handheld piece without the aquatic drone.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 9, this is a front view of the embodiment of the aquatic drone in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the aquatic drone is near-spherical in shape. In alternative embodiments, it may take the shapes of spheroids or ovoidal shapes.

[0116] Referring to FIG. 10, this is a perspective view of the aquatic drone.

[0117] Referring to FIG. 11, this is an exploded view of the aquatic drone to show all the internal and external parts, including the drone external shell top half 203, chassis for the drone 222, drone external shell bottom half 223 of the drone 200, translucent dome 201, printed circuit board 202, battery 204 as a power source to run the drone 200 and all the electronics inside it, drone motor for line release and uptake 205 and magnetic coupling and rotating of the drone motor for line release and uptake 206 connected, first drone propulsion motor 207 and magnetic coupling and rotating of the first drone propulsion motor 208 connected, magnetic coupler of propeller to first drone propulsion motor 209 and propeller of the first drone propulsion motor 210 connected, second drone propulsion motor 211 and connected magnetic coupler and rotating of the second drone propulsion motor 212, and a connected magnetic coupler of propeller to the second drone propulsion motor 213 with the propeller of the second drone propulsion motor 214, a spindle for line release 215, pressure roller for securing line to spindle 216, polymer support and mounting frame for spindle 217, drone bay control level 218, the inside part of the drone bay control level 219, right bay access door to hock and bay 220, left bay access door to hock and bait 221. In addition, there is a light-emitting diode (LED) 228 on the top part of the drone and visible through the translucent dome 201.

[0118] The drone is composed of drone external shell top half 203 that has hard outer surface and is filled with a material that allows the drone external shell top half 203 to float. This material may be a spray liquid foam that when dries is hardened to a porous structure that will float. The drone external shell top half 203 also has on its translucent dome 201 a strobe light that is used to help locate the bot and may also be used as an alert mechanism.

[0119] When a desired event occurs such as a fish being caught. The lower portion of the robotic vessel houses two side-by-side motors, First drone propulsion motor 207 that have propeller of the first drone propulsion motor 210 connected to allow the drone to navigate in a liquid environment, and the second drone propulsion motor 211 that have propeller of the second drone propulsion motor 214 connected to allow the drone to navigate in a liquid environment.

[0120] The drone external shell top half 203, chassis for the drone 222 and drone external shell bottom half 223 contains the supporting electronics and power means to drive first drone propulsion motor 207 and the second drone propulsion motor 211 and illuminate the strobe light, as well as a secondary light on the bottom of the drone 224 that faces into the liquid.

[0121] The hatch 225 can be opened by the control board and LCD touch display 300 and allow hook 226 to be suspended from a segment of the drone fishing line 227 where it is tethered to the drone 200. The drone fishing line 227 may be manually adjusted in size to allow the hook 226 assembly the optimal length of suspension for the particular fishing environment.

[0122] Referring to FIG. 12, this is the control board and LCD touch display, this is is the control board and LCD touch display 300 installed on the handheld piece 100 and equipped with means to wirelessly transmit data and receive data from the handheld piece 100 to the drone 200 in addition to having the means to wirelessly transmit and receive data from an outside device or network with wireless transmission means such as a smartphone.

[0123] The handheld piece is activated by an on/off switch located on the case which powers up the control board and LCD touch display. The default position of the drone is attached to the launch pod for the drone. When the power is on the LCD touch display 108 is active and all the controls are accessible. The graphic below describes each of the controls for the handheld piece 100.

[0124] Beginning from the top going clockwise, Main battery indicator 301 shows level of battery for the battery inside the case of the handheld piece. Battery indicator for the drone 302, display level of battery remaining in drone. Main controller transmitter signal to drone 303, indicator for RF signal between main board and drone or SSI signal strength indicator. Illumination on/off switch for drone beacon 304. Control to release hook and bait from the bottom bay of the drone 305.

[0125] Rainbow directional controller for the drone 306 which allows the white index triangle to be placed anywhere on the circumference of the indicator to control the direction and heading of the drone. Slider indicator for controlling the power of the motors and the speed of movement of the drone 307. Sinker line gauge 308 presets or sets in real time the amount of line extending from the spindle (spool) of the drone to the end of the hook. The fish icon 309 is to preset or set in real time the path(s) that the drone follows in a repeating format.

[0126] In general, to use the present invention, after setting the display the angler launches the drone 200 by lightly flinging the drone 200 onto the surface of the water a few feet from where they are standing. In order to accomplish this the person must coordinate the depressing of the trigger underneath the case that is aligned with the reel button on the back of the internal reel 104 which allows for the release of the drone fishing line 227. This is the standard operation for a spincast reel. The drone 200 is then released on the surface of the water and the operator can begin to steer and adjust the speed of the drone using the touch display or the joystick depending upon their preference. The joy stick 112 also has both speed and directional control. Upon reach a preferred location the bait and hook activation control is pressed and the two bay doors begin to retract in opposite directions creating an open space for the hook and bait to be released. The bait then auto spools to the length that has been preset. One of the unique features of the present invention is to manually or automatically set the length of the sinker line in addition to having the capability to have the line automatically retract and then descend again repeatedly. When the fish bites the hook 226 the angler begins to reel line using the conventional reel. Once the fish has been brought back to the angler the fish may be released from the line in typical fashion and then the new bait is replaced on the line, the drone doors are manually closed and the cycle may be repeated.

[0127] When the main unit is charged it also charges the drone through a conductive means that is between the drone body and the launching pod which is connected by conductive material to the main control unit.

[0128] FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of the aquatic drone for non-fishing aquatic applications. By replacing the fishing hook with a robotic arm (401) and grasping mechanism (402), the device may be used to fetch or place inanimate bodies or living organisms under water. Additionally, by incorporating on the grasping element a chemical sensor, the operator will be able to detect biological, organic, or inorganic compounds based upon the method used to detect the analyte.