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US 11,899,104 B2Granted
Navigation system for underwater vehicles
AssigneeFraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
InventorsGunnar Brink, Edwin Devassykutty, Christian Langen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a navigation system which, on the one hand, is arranged on sides of the underwater vehicle/AUV and, on the other hand, includes a surface transmitter as a counterpart. The two units communicate with each other such that the surface transmitter emits its signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle and/or that the surface transmitter follows the underwater vehicle to improve the position determination capability.
Claims10
A receiver for an underwater vehicle, comprising:
- receiver for receiving at least a first signal, wherein the first signal is transmitted in a directional manner by a first surface transmitter such that a runtime of the first signal can be determined;
- a signal analyzer configured to determine the runtime of the first signal so as to acquire a conclusion on a first distance to the first surface transmitter;
- and
- a calculator configured to determine, based on known positions of the first surface transmitter and on the first distance, the position of the underwater vehicle in the three-dimensional underwater space in the x-, y- and z-direction;
- and
- a transmitter configured to transmit a control signal to the first surface transmitter such that the surface transmitter follows the x- and y-direction of the underwater vehicle in the x- and y-direction and such that the first surface transmitter transmits the first signal directed in the direction of the position of the underwater vehicle;
- wherein the transmitter of the first surface transmitter comprises a transmitting array for selectively directionally emitting the first signal and is configured to control the transmitting array on the basis of the position information so that the same transmits the first signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle;
- or wherein the transmitter of the first surface transmitter comprises a movable transmitter for selectively directionally emitting the first signal and is configured to control the movable transmitter in its movement on the basis of the position information so that the same transmits the first signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle.
5 more elements
A method for an underwater vehicle, comprising:
- receiving at least a first signal, wherein the first signal is transmitted in a directional manner by a first surface transmitter such that a runtime of the first signal can be determined;
- determining the runtime of the first signal so as to acquire a conclusion on a first distance to the first surface transmitter;
- and
- determining, based on known positions of the first surface transmitter and on the first distance, the position of the underwater vehicle in the three-dimensional underwater space in the x-, y- and z-direction;
- and
- transmitting a control signal to the first surface transmitter such that the surface transmitter follows the x- and y-direction of the underwater vehicle in the x- and y-direction and such that the first surface transmitter transmits the first signal directed in the direction of the position of the underwater vehicle;
- wherein the transmitter of the first surface transmitter comprises a transmitting array for selectively directionally emitting the first signal and is configured to control the transmitting array on the basis of the position information so that the same transmits the first signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle;
- or wherein the transmitter of the first surface transmitter comprises a movable transmitter for selectively directionally emitting the first signal and is configured to control the movable transmitter in its movement on the basis of the position information so that the same transmits the first signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle.
5 more elements
Computer digital storage medium having stored thereon a computer program code for performing, when running on an underwater vehicle a method for operating same, comprising:
- receiving at least a first signal, wherein the first signal is transmitted in a directional manner by a first surface transmitter such that a runtime of the first signal can be determined;
- determining the runtime of the first signal so as to acquire a conclusion on a first distance to the first surface transmitter;
- and
- determining, based on known positions of the first surface transmitter and on the first distance, the position of the underwater vehicle in the three-dimensional underwater space in the x-, y- and z-direction;
- and
- transmitting a control signal to the first surface transmitter such that the surface transmitter follows the x- and y-direction of the underwater vehicle in the x- and y-direction and such that the first surface transmitter transmits the first signal directed in the direction of the position of the underwater vehicle;
- wherein the transmitter of the first surface transmitter comprises a transmitting array for selectively directionally emitting the first signal and is configured to control the transmitting array on the basis of the position information so that the same transmits the first signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle;
- or wherein the transmitter of the first surface transmitter comprises a movable transmitter for selectively directionally emitting the first signal and is configured to control the movable transmitter in its movement on the basis of the position information so that the same transmits the first signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.