Portable aquatic vehicles

Abstract

Portable, low cost, high speed surface and subsurface vehicles for aquatic data collection, payload delivery, or water quality monitoring. The vehicles can be deployed in pods enable rapid large scale data collection across a wide area. The vehicles are capable of transiting the water surface at speeds of over ten knots, and can also be propelled under the water surface and dive vertically to the floor of the water body. A passive, non-powered internal weight transfer system enhances the vehicle's performance in each of its transit modes. The vehicles can have one or more of the following features: high speed stabilizing wings, a tool-less assembly system, sacrificial standoffs for vertical dives, sacrificial protectors for the control surfaces, and/or a universal mounting system for attaching payloads such as sensors.

1 . The aquatic vehicle of claim  12  comprising:
 a mass inside the aquatic vehicle that is movable with respect to a vehicle hull; and 
 a first compressive device configured to compress under a weight of the mass when the vehicle is oriented sufficiently vertically, and decompress when a more horizontal orientation of the vehicle reduces the force acting on the compressive device due to the weight of the mass; 
 wherein a powered device is not utilized to move the mass relative to the vehicle hull. 
 
     
     
         2 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the compressive device comprises a spring or flexible tubing. 
     
     
         3 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the mass comprises one or more batteries. 
     
     
         4 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 3  wherein the batteries are replaceable without requiring a tool. 
     
     
         5 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 1  wherein a second compressive device located rearward from the first compressive device dampens the mobility of the mass when the aquatic vehicle is in large waves or currents. 
     
     
         6 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 5  wherein the first compressive device comprises a spring and the second compressive device does not comprise a spring. 
     
     
         7 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 1  wherein during forward motion of the aquatic vehicle the mass is disposed toward the front of the aquatic vehicle, thereby orienting the aquatic vehicle more horizontally. 
     
     
         8 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 1  wherein when the aquatic vehicle is vertically oriented the mass is disposed toward the aft of the aquatic vehicle, thereby stabilizing the aquatic vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The aquatic vehicle of claim  12  capable of traveling on or under a water surface and diving in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The aquatic vehicle of claim  12  wherein lengths of the wings are greater than 45% of the length of the vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The aquatic vehicle of claim  12  capable of traveling on the water surface at a speed greater than approximately 10 knots. 
     
     
         12 . An aquatic vehicle comprising wings which enable planing of the aquatic vehicle at a speed on a water surface greater than approximately 6 knots. 
     
     
         13 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the wings enable straight vertical alignment when the aquatic vehicle undergoes diving in a vertical orientation. 
     
     
         14 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the wings comprise wing sections connected to a hull unit and forward wings. 
     
     
         15 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the aquatic vehicle is portable. 
     
     
         16 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 15  weighing less than approximately nine pounds. 
     
     
         56 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the wings are delta wings. 
     
     
         57 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 12  comprising a cylindrical hull. 
     
     
         58 . The aquatic vehicle of  claim 12  wherein the wings enable operation in nearshore surf zone conditions.