Trimaran having outriggers with propulsors

Abstract

An improved trimaran of a type having a central hull, a starboard outrigger, a port outrigger, a starboard crossbar for attaching the starboard outrigger laterally to the starboard of the central hull, and a port crossbar for attaching the port outrigger laterally to the port of the central hull is provided. The improvement comprises a starboard propulsor attached to the starboard outrigger for propelling the trimaran, a port propulsor attached to the port outrigger for propelling the trimaran; and a motor controller connected to both the starboard and port propulsors for controlling the combined propulsion of the starboard and port propulsors for controlling both the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering.

1 . An unmanned trimaran for providing a survey instrument with a mobile platform for surveying a body of water, the trimaran comprising:
 a central hull defining an instrument well for housing the survey instrument,   a starboard outrigger,   a port rigger,   a starboard crossbar for attaching said starboard outrigger laterally to the starboard of said central hull,   a post crossbar for attaching port outrigger laterally to the port of said central hull,   a starboard propulsor attached to said starboard outrigger for propelling the trimaran;   a port propulsor attached to said port outrigger for propelling the trimaran; and   a motor controller connected to both said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for controlling the combined propulsion of said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for controlling both the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering,
 said motor controller including a remote controller with a remote control transmitter/receiver connected to a mixed electronic speed controller (ESC) connected to said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for remote single stick control of both the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering 
 said central hull, said port outrigger and said starboard outrigger each having hull conformations and buoyancy, and weigh distribution for wave-piercing, 
 said central hull said port outrigger and said starboard outrigger each having a topside deck submersible during wave-piercing, 
 the trimaran lacking a common deck or platform simultaneously overlaying, at least in part the central hull and both the port and starboard outriggers. 
   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 the trimaran lacking a rudder. 
 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 the starboard cross bar includes a first hinge for rotating the starboard outrigger from an extended position employable for water navigation and a folded position for folding the starboard outrigger below the bottom side of the central hull for transporting the trimaran out of water; and 
 the port cross bar includes a second hinge for rotating the port outrigger from an extended position employable for water navigation and a folded position for folding the port outrigger below the bottom side of the central hull for transporting the trimaran out of water. 
 
     
     
         8 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 said starboard and port propulsors both being inboard. 
 
     
     
         9 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 said starboard and port propulsors both being outboard. 
 
     
     
         10 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein the trimaran further comprising:
 said motor controller further including an autonomous controller with an autonomous guidance system electronically connected said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for guiding the trimaran along a pre-planned path of navigation by tank steering, and 
 a switch connected to said motor controller for selecting between the remote controller and the autonomous controller for controlling the speed and direction of the trimaran. 
 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 10  wherein:
 said autonomous controller executing pre-planned path navigation with differential power being applied to said starboard and port propulsors for controlling the speed and direction of the trimaran by means of tank type steering. 
 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein the trimaran further comprising:
 an energy source housed in said central hull and port and starboard power lines connected to and running from said energy source to said port end starboard propulsors for powering said port and starboard propulsors. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method for steering an unmanned trimaran having port and starboard propulsors in port and starboard outriggers respectively, the method comprising the step of:
 Step A: exerting differential control of the propulsion from the port and starboard propulsors with, a motor controller employing mixed steering for controlling the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering, the motor controller including a remote controller with a remote control transmitter/receiver connected to a mixed electronic speed controller (ESC) connected to said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for remote single stick control of the trimaran.   
     
     
         16 . A method for steering a trimaran as described in  claim 15  wherein:
 in said Step A: the motor controller further including an autonomous controller and a switch for switching between the remote controller and the autonomous controller, the autonomous controller having an autonomous guidance system electronically connected the starboard and port propulsors for guiding the trimaran along the pre-planned path of navigation by tank steering. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method for steering a trimaran as described in  claim 15  further comprising the following additional step:
 Step B: activating the switch for selecting the remote controller for exerting differential control of the propulsion by remote control of the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method for steering a trimaran as described in  claim 15  further comprising the following additional step:
 Step B: activating the switch for selecting the autonomous controller for exerting differential control of the propulsion by autonomous control of the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering. 
 
     
     
         19 . An unmanned trimaran for providing a survey instrument with a mobile platform for surveying a body of water, the trimaran comprising;
 a central hull defining an instrument well for housing the survey instrument,   a starboard outrigger,   a port outrigger,   said central hull, said port outrigger, and said starboard outrigger each having hull conformations and buoyancy, and weight distribution for wave-piercing,   said central hull, said port outrigger, and said starboard outrigger each having a topside deck submersible during wave-piercing,   the trimaran lacking a common deck or platform simultaneously overlaying, at least in part, the central hull and both the port and starboard outriggers,   a starboard crossbar for attaching said starboard outrigger laterally to the starboard of said central hull,   a port crossbar for attaching said port outrigger laterally to the port of said central hull,   a starboard propulsor attached to said starboard outrigger for propelling the trimaran;   a port propulsor attached to said port outrigger for propelling the trimaran; and   a motor controller connected to both said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for controlling the combined propulsion of said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for controlling both the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering,
 said motor controller including an autonomous controller with an autonomous guidance system electronically connected said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for guiding the trimaran along a pre-planned path of navigation by tank steering, 
 said central hull, said port outrigger, and said starboard outrigger each having hull conformations and buoyancy, and weight distribution for wave-piercing, 
 said central hull, said port outrigger, and said starboard outrigger each having a topside deck submersible during wave-piercing, 
 the trimaran lacking a common deck or platform simultaneously overlaying, at least in part, the central hull and both the port and starboard outriggers. 
   
     
     
         20 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 19  wherein:
 the trimaran lacking a rudder. 
 
     
     
         21 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 19  wherein:
 the starboard cross bar includes a first hinge for rotating the starboard outrigger from an extended position employable for wafer navigation and a folded position for folding the starboard outrigger below the bottom side of the central hull for transporting the trimaran out of water; and 
 the port cross bar includes a second hinge for rotating the port outrigger from an extended position employable for water navigation and a folded position for folding the port outrigger below the bottom side of the central hull for transporting the trimaran out of water. 
 
     
     
         22 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 19  wherein:
 said starboard and port propulsors both being inboard. 
 
     
     
         23 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 19  wherein:
 said starboard and port propulsors both being outboard. 
 
     
     
         24 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 19  wherein the trimaran further comprising:
 said motor controller further including a remote controller with a remote control transmitter/receiver connected to a mixed electronic speed controller (ESC) connected to said starboard propulsor and said port propulsor for remote single stick control of both the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering, and 
 a switch connected to said motor controller for selecting between the remote controller and the autonomous controller for controlling the speed and direction of the trimaran. 
 
     
     
         25 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 19  wherein:
 the instrument well defined by said central hull having an open bottom for providing the survey instrument with access to the body of water. 
 
     
     
         26 . An unmanned trimaran as described in  claim 19  wherein the trimaran further comprising:
 an energy source housed in said central hull and port and starboard power lines connected to and running from said energy source to said port and starboard propulsors for powering said port and starboard propulsors.