The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 30, 2019
Filed:
Apr. 11, 2016
Raytheon Bbn Technologies, Corp., Cambridge, MA (US);
Gregory Duckworth, Cambridge, MA (US);
William Coney, Cambridge, MA (US);
Yevgeniy Dorfman, Cambridge, MA (US);
Raytheon BBN Technologies, Corp., Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
A subsea system for exploiting an oceanic current shear includes a first vehicle positionable in a first oceanic current and tethered to a second vehicle positionable in a second oceanic current. The first and second oceanic currents have a velocity differential. A drag or lift device integral or attached to the first vehicle exerts a force through the tether on the second vehicle and its associated drag or lift device, thus providing a net propulsive force. Hydrofoils or control devices attached to the vehicles provide hydrodynamic lift, drag, and/or depth control that allow the direction of the force to be controlled for propulsion in a desired direction. The relative currents and/or change in separation of the vehicles can be used for energy harvesting. Turbines and generators coupled to the vehicles harvest energy for long term subsea endurance. A sensor aperture comprises a plurality of sensors coupled to components of the subsea system.