Apparatus and method for control of seismic survey equipment
AssigneeWesterneco L.L.C.
InventorLeendert Combee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unmanned water vessel can include a body defining an internal volume and having a shape adapted to travel through water, with a front and a back; at least one directional device that is exposed to the flow of water past the vehicle when the vehicle travels in a forward direction, the directional device having a first position that provides an angle of attack through the water flow and a second position that provides a second angle of attack through the water flow; and a control system that provides commands to the at least one directional device in view of a starting point, an end point, and at least information about water flow expected to be encountered by the water vessel during travel.
Claims19
An unmanned water vessel comprising:
- a body having a shape adapted to travel through water;
- at least one directional device that is exposed to the flow of water past the vessel when the vessel travels in a forward direction, the at least one directional device having a first position that provides an angle of attack through the water flow and a second position that provides a second angle of attack through the water flow;
- a control system that processes positioning information for the vessel, and provides commands to the at least one directional device in view of a defined starting point, end point, and at least information about water movement that is determined in advance of travel from the start point to the end point and that is expected to be encountered by the water vessel during future travel between the starting point and the end point;
- and
- a seismic sensor connected with the body.
An unmanned water vessel comprising:
- a body having a shape adapted to travel through water;
- at least one propulsion device that has a first setting that does not provide steering force to the vessel, and a second setting that provides a steering force to the vessel;
- and
- a control system that provides commands to the at least one propulsion device to select between the first and second setting in view of an end point, and at least information about water movement that is determined in advance of travel to the end point and that is expected to be encountered by the water vessel during travel.
A method of traveling an unmanned water vessel from a start position to an end position, comprising:
- selecting a starting position based at least in part on water movement information for water that is expected to be encountered by the water vessel over the course of future travel and that is determined in advance of the future travel;
- and
- steering the unmanned water vessel at least based on the water movement information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.