Chamber Completely Enclosed In The Hull Patents (Class 114/324)
  • Patent number: 8336479
    Abstract: A submersible object management (SOM) system for releasing and/or recovering a plurality of submersible objects within a body of liquid includes a hold and a deployment system. The hold is configured to store the plurality of submersible objects. The deployment system is selectively operable to controllably release at least one of the plurality of submersible objects from the hold into submersion in the body of liquid and/or selectively operable to controllably direct at least one of the plurality of submersible objects into the hold from submersion in the body of liquid. The deployment system includes a guide that is selectively extendable to direct the at least one submersible object, the guide including a plurality of extendable guide members configured to engage the at least one submersible object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick Vosburgh, Charles A. Pell