Autonomous devices and methods of use

A method of identifying objects in an underwater environment, the method comprising:

• deploying an unmanned device to a body of water, the unmanned device comprising:
• a location sensor configured to gather location data corresponding to the unmanned device;
• at least one propulsion system configured to propel the unmanned device along the body of water;
• a transmitter configured to transmit data to a remote electronics device;
• and
• at least one sonar transducer, wherein the at least one sonar transducer is configured to emit one or more sonar beams into the underwater environment of the body of water from the unmanned device;
• causing the at least one propulsion system to propel the unmanned device in a pattern along the body of water;
• causing the at least one sonar transducer to emit the one or more sonar beams into the underwater environment;
• receiving sonar return data corresponding to sonar returns received by the at least one sonar transducer;
• generating a sonar image corresponding to the sonar return data;
• determining a desired object type;
• detecting at least one object within the sonar image;
• comparing, utilizing a model developed through artificial intelligence, the detected one or more objects to one or more stored object types of a plurality of object types in an object database to determine an object type for the detected one or more objects, wherein the model is formed based on historical comparisons of a historical object-type with historical sonar data and historical additional data;
• assigning, based on the comparison, a score to the one or more objects detected within the sonar image, wherein the score is an indication of the likelihood that the at least one object is the desired object type;
• and
• sending an alert to the remote electronic device, when the score is above a threshold value.

A system for determining an identity of an object in an underwater environment, the system comprising:

• a remote electronics device;
• an unmanned device, wherein the unmanned device is in data communication with the remote electronics device, the unmanned device comprising:
• a location sensor configured to gather location data corresponding to the unmanned device;
• at least one propulsion system configured to propel the unmanned device;
• at least one sonar transducer, wherein the at least one sonar transducer is configured to emit one or more sonar beams into an underwater environment of the body of water from the unmanned device;
• a transmitter configured to transmit data to the remote electronics device;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory including computer program code, the computer program code configured to, when executed, cause the processor to:
• cause the at least one propulsion system to propel the unmanned device in a pattern along the body of water;
• cause the at least one sonar transducer to emit the one or more sonar beams into the body of water;
• receive sonar return data corresponding to sonar returns received by the at least one sonar transducer;
• generate a sonar image corresponding to the sonar return data;
• detect one or more objects within the sonar image;
• compare, utilizing a model developed through artificial intelligence, the detected one or more objects to one or more stored object types of a plurality of object types in an object database to determine an object type for the detected one or more objects, wherein the model is formed based on historical comparisons of a historical object-type with historical sonar data and historical additional data;
• assign, based on the comparison, a score to the one or more objects, wherein the score provides an indication of the likelihood that the one or more objects is a desired object type;
• and
• send an alert to the remote electronics device upon assignment of the score.