Method for parasitic transport of an autonomous vehicle
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorJennifer Guild
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The vehicle and other autonomous vehicles can be transported to the location of use by a ferry vehicle thereby conserving vehicle systems and resources and expanding the vehicle utility.
Claims15
A method for parasitically transporting an autonomous vehicle from a first location to a second location, comprising the steps of:
- providing an attachment location on an exterior surface of a ferry apparatus, wherein the attachment location comprises a guide adapted to position the autonomous vehicle relative to the ferry apparatus;
- magnetically coupling the autonomous vehicle to the ferry apparatus;
- transporting the vehicle when attached to the ferry apparatus, from the first location to the second location;
- and,
- releasing the autonomous vehicle from the ferry apparatus when at the second location, wherein the step of releasing the autonomous vehicle comprises rotating a magnet to generate a repelling force that separates the autonomous vehicle from the ferry apparatus, the guide further adapted to prevent the autonomous vehicle from rotating during the step of releasing the autonomous vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.