US 12,129,822 B1
Autonomous underwater beacon locator
Almond J. Cote, Auburn, NH (US)
Assigned to AJC Innovations, LLC, Auburn, NH (US)
Filed by AJC Innovations, LLC, Auburn, NH (US)
Filed on Oct. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/977,056.
Application 17/977,056 is a continuation of application No. 16/995,384, filed on Aug. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,486,346.
Application 16/995,384 is a continuation of application No. 16/105,799, filed on Aug. 20, 2018, granted, now 10,746,154, issued on Aug. 18, 2020.
Application 16/105,799 is a continuation of application No. 15/219,167, filed on Jul. 25, 2016, granted, now 10,054,104.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/196,888, filed on Jul. 24, 2015.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F03B 13/20 (2006.01); B63G 8/00 (2006.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); G01V 1/00 (2024.01); G05D 1/00 (2024.01); H02K 7/14 (2006.01); G05D 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC F03B 13/20 (2013.01) [B64D 45/00 (2013.01); G01V 1/001 (2013.01); G05D 1/0088 (2013.01); G05D 1/10 (2013.01); H02K 7/14 (2013.01); B63B 2209/14 (2013.01); B63G 2008/004 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0065 (2013.01); F05B 2240/931 (2013.01); F05B 2260/4031 (2013.01); F05B 2260/42 (2013.01); F05B 2260/5032 (2013.01); Y02E 10/30 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An autonomous underwater beacon locator, comprising:
a housing that is hydrodynamically optimized for deep-water operations under varying water pressures;
a communications link system including an antenna for surface and satellite communications;
an onboard processor system comprising sub-processors and memory capable of processing sensor data, receiving and executing remote commands, generating and communicating reports, executing stored navigational and operational instructions, and monitoring and controlling locator function;
a plurality of hydrophones;
a power system comprising a motion-responsive generator, a solar panel and an onboard rechargeable energy storage unit;
a navigation system enabled by movable fins and a rudder; and
a suite of sensors enabling detection, location, and identification of targets of interest, and performing collision avoidance, wherein the motion-responsive generator converts locator rotation and wave-induced differential linear acceleration into electrical energy based on an orientation of a first vector component of the differential linear acceleration relative to an axis of a generator shaft of a generator pendulum and an axis of a main shaft to which the generator pendulum is mounted, the first vector component causing the generator pendulum to swing.