Abstract

The invention relates to an autonomous underwater drone (1) and to a method for manufacturing such an autonomous underwater drone (1) comprising a step of assembling a body (2) comprising at least a battery (3) and an electronic device (4) powered by the battery (3), a step of inserting the body (2) into a mould comprising two mould cavities, a moulding cavity being formed between the two mould cavities and the body (2). The method also comprises a step of overmoulding the body (2) in which the moulding cavity is filled with a liquid polymer material, a demoulding step carried out after curing the polymer material in order to obtain an autonomous underwater drone (1) comprising a hull (8) overmoulded around the body (2), and a step of mounting at least one thruster (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) on the hull (8).

IPC Classes  ?

• B63B 5/24 - Hulls characterised by their construction of non-metallic material made predominantly of plastics
• B63B 73/72 - Building or assembling vessels or marine structures, e.g. hulls or offshore platforms characterised by using mouldsMoulds or plugs therefor characterised by plastic moulding, e.g. injection moulding, extrusion moulding or blow moulding
• B63G 8/00 - Underwater vessels, e.g. submarines

Abstract

The present invention relates to a buoying device, to a system for exploring a submerged area, and to methods for deploying and collapsing such a buoying device. The buoying device is characterized in that the buoy (1) includes a sound-emitting/receiving means and a propulsion means (11) configured so as to enable the navigation thereof parallel to the water surface (14) and/or contribute to the buoy rising back up to the surface (14). The method for deploying a buoying device for a submerged area (7) includes: a step of indicating a predetermined geographic flow position to the buoy (1); a step of navigating the buoy (1) from the instantaneous geographic position thereof to the predetermined geographic flow position; and a step of submerging the buoy (1) in the submerged area (7). The invention can be used in the exploration of submerged areas, e.g. for archaeological research, the study and tracking of marine flora and fauna, and oil, gas, or mineral exploration.

IPC Classes  ?

• B63B 22/06 - Anchoring arrangements with means to cause the buoy to surface in response to a transmitted signal
• B63B 22/16 - Buoys specially adapted for marking a navigational route
• B63B 22/18 - Buoys having means to control attitude or position, e.g. reaction surfaces or tether
• B63B 22/20 - Ballast means
• B63G 8/16 - Control of attitude or depth by direct use of propellers or jets
• B63G 8/22 - Adjustment of buoyancy by water ballastingEmptying equipment for ballast tanks