US 11,807,358 B2
Submersible drone delivery and recovery system using waterproof aerial drone
Brian Erik Barnes, Bedford, TX (US); and Gary Miller, North Richland Hills, TX (US)
Assigned to TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Bell Textron Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/074,172.
Prior Publication US 2022/0119104 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 29/02 (2006.01); B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B60F 5/02 (2006.01); B63B 43/12 (2006.01); B64U 60/10 (2023.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B63G 8/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 29/02 (2013.01) [B60F 5/02 (2013.01); B63B 43/12 (2013.01); B63B 79/40 (2020.01); B64U 10/20 (2023.01); B64U 60/10 (2023.01); B63G 8/001 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A submersible rotorcraft, comprising:
a pair of wings;
tail booms attached to opposite outboard ends of the wings;
a control module for controlling a depth to which the rotorcraft is submerged in a body of water;
a compressed air chamber associated with the control module; and
flotation pods attached to ends of each of the tail booms distal to ends of the tail booms attached to the wings, each of the flotation pods including a sealable opening on a top surface thereof and an opening on a bottom surface thereof;
wherein the control module selectively causes water to be taken into the flotation pods to cause the submersion system to submerge in the body of water and selectively causes water to be evacuated from the flotation pods to cause the rotorcraft to float in the body of water such that the wings are supported by the tail booms above a surface of the body of water; and
wherein the control module selectively causes pressurized air from the compressed air chamber to be injected into the flotation pods.