Detachable drone for monitoring a moving vessel

• Main Authors: Florence, Christopher R, Sherk, Walker L, Moore, Jordan T, Yang, Pu
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.08.2020
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; AIRCRAFT CARRIERS; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; AVIATION; CHECKING-DEVICES; COSMONAUTICS; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING; FLYING SUITS; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; HELICOPTERS; LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS; MINE-LAYING; MINE-SWEEPING; OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; RELATED EQUIPMENT; SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; SUBMARINES; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; TRANSPORTING; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS

Provided are techniques for monitoring a moving vessel using a detachable drone coupled to the moving vessel. An event is identified that triggers detachment of the detachable drone from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is detached from the moving vessel. The detachable drone is moved to a predetermined location. A beacon based on beacon data is transmitted from the detachable drone. In response to the detachable drone receiving a request for the data, data collected from monitoring the moving vessel is delivered.