Water Vehicles

Abstract

Equipment and methods which combine the use of wave powered vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs or drones). A UAV can be launched from a wave-powered vehicle, observe another vessel and report the results of its observation to the wave-powered vehicle and the waves-powered vehicle can report the results of the observation to a remote location. The UAV can land on water and can then be recovered by the wave-powered vehicle.

1 . A float which comprises means for launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 
     
     
         2 . A wave-powered vehicle (WPV) as hereinbefore defined which comprises a float according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A wave-powered vehicle (WPV) which comprises means for recovering an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is floating in the water. 
     
     
         4 . A float which comprises means for recovering an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is floating in the water. 
     
     
         5 . A method, performed by a wave-powered vehicle (WPV) having communications equipment, of monitoring vessels which are floating in water, the method comprising:
 receiving communications from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the communications equipment of the WPV; and   transmitting corresponding communications to a receiving station at a remote location.   
     
     
         6 . A method of monitoring a vessel which is floating in water, the method comprising:
 correlating signals received by a plurality of WPVs to identify the location of the vessel; and   launching a UAV from a WPV according to  claim 2 .   
     
     
         7 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which, when it lands on water, sinks below the surface of water except for a recovery means which remains above the surface of the water. 
     
     
         8 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which can be converted between (1) a collapsed form in which it can be stowed in a tube and (2) an unfolded form which can operate as a UAV and which the UAV adopts automatically when it is released from the tube. 
     
     
         9 . A float comprising:
 a hull;   a launch tube mounted to the hull for storing a UAV according to  claim 8  when the UAV is in its collapsed form; and   means for ejecting the collapsed UAV from the launch tube whereupon the UAV, when ejected, adopts its unfolded form.   
     
     
         10 . The float of  claim 9 , and further comprising elements for providing wave-powered propulsion to the float so that the float is a component of a wave-powered vehicle (WPD).