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US 6,681,711 B2Granted
System for deploying cable
AssigneeAmerican Systems Corporation
InventorRobert King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for deploying cable in a body of water comprising an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) capable of converting vertical motion into horizontal travel, having a housing and means to deploy cable in a body of water. The cable, usually a cable sensor array, is released from a cable storage section of the AUV as the AUV glides. Vertical motion can be provided by buoyancy change, by dropping the AUV into the water, or by release of the AUV from a weighted bunker at the bottom.
Claims20
An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) comprising:
- means to change buoyancy to create vertical motion;
- means for converting the vertical motion into horizontal travel;
- and
- a housing with means to deploy cable on a floor of a body of water during conversion of vertical motion into horizontal travel;
- wherein substantially all of the horizontal travel is achieved by converting the vertical motion;
- wherein the AUV is adapted to be un-manned.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.