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. 02, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 09, 1994
Michael P Wapner, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Sonatech, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Abstract
A system and method for identifying a route for excavation of an underwater trench on the seafloor includes a surface vessel, a plurality of penetrometers and an onboard computer. As the surface vessel plies along a proposed route for the underwater trench, penetrometers are launched from the vessel at selected launch points. Upon impact of a penetrometer with the seafloor, acoustic signals transmitted from the penetrometer during the impact event are analyzed by the onboard computer. From this computer analysis the seafloor at the impact point is classified as being in either a first state indicative of proceeding along the proposed route or a second state necessitating a deviation from the proposed route. Depending on the state of the seafloor and the number of deviations needed, the proposed route is returned to and followed, or a new proposed route is established. Data from the impact events are subsequently compiled to establish an actual route for excavation of the underwater trench.