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.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 2015

Filed:

Mar. 23, 2012
Applicants:

Robert G. Melvin, Ii, Sandwich, MA (US);

Maurice D. Green, North Falmouth, MA (US);

Inventors:

Robert G. Melvin, II, Sandwich, MA (US);

Maurice D. Green, North Falmouth, MA (US);

Assignee:

Teledyne Instruments, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 3/80 (2006.01); B63G 8/14 (2006.01); G01S 5/00 (2006.01); G01S 3/808 (2006.01); G01S 5/18 (2006.01); G01S 15/74 (2006.01); B65D 88/78 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 5/0054 (2013.01); G01S 3/8083 (2013.01); G01S 5/18 (2013.01); G01S 15/74 (2013.01); B65D 88/78 (2013.01);
Abstract

Methods and apparatus determining a position of a submersible vehicle within a body of water are provided. A method comprises determining an initial position of the vehicle while the vehicle is at or near a water surface. The method further comprises coupling the vehicle and a base node to a weight and determining a position of the base node once the base node and vehicle have reached the floor of the body of water using acoustic modems of the vehicle and a surface vessel to aid in calculating the position as they descend, and acoustically transferring the at rest position on the seafloor from the vehicle to the node. The method further comprises decoupling the vehicle from the node and weight and determining a position of the vehicle based on the position of the base node and acoustic signals exchanged between acoustic modems of the vehicle and the base node.


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