US 11,724,786 B2
Multiple autonomous underwater vehicle systems and methods
Robert Douglas Christ, Covington, LA (US); and David Earl Selby, Hammond, LA (US)
Assigned to SeaTrepid DeepSea LLC, Robert, LA (US)
Filed by SeaTrepid DeepSea LLC, Robert, LA (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/960,297.
Application 17/960,297 is a continuation of application No. 16/706,720, filed on Dec. 7, 2019, granted, now 11,465,718.
Application 16/706,720 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/060247, filed on Nov. 6, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/518,560, filed on Jun. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0079758 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B63G 8/00 (2006.01); B63G 8/39 (2006.01); G01S 15/89 (2006.01); G05D 1/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/06 (2006.01); B63B 35/00 (2020.01)
CPC B63G 8/001 (2013.01) [B63G 8/39 (2013.01); G01S 15/89 (2013.01); G05D 1/0022 (2013.01); G05D 1/0027 (2013.01); G05D 1/0692 (2013.01); B63B 2035/007 (2013.01); B63G 2008/004 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for exploration of an underwater region, the system comprising:
a host platform; multiple intermediate nodes; and multiple autonomous underwater vehicles, AUVs, wherein
the host platform and the intermediate nodes communicate via a first communications protocol, and wherein
the intermediate nodes and the AUVs communicate via a second communications protocol, distinct from said first communications protocol, and wherein said host platform communicates with said AUVs via said intermediate nodes, and wherein
aspects of said exploration comprise at least some of the AUVs using sonar to actively scan portions of said underwater region independent of the intermediate nodes and the host platform,
wherein a sonar for a particular AUV detects reflected sound waves originating at or emitted from the particular AUV.