Patent Document ID: 20140216325
Application ID: 14170197
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1 ) A free vehicle for ocean exploration comprising: a) a first housing having an inside and an outside the first housing sealed against the passage of water from the outside to the inside, b) an area on the inside of the first housing for carrying cargo, c) at least one of a magnetically actuated switch attached to an inner wall of the first housing positioned such that it can be activated by placing a magnet near the switch on the outside of the chamber, d) at least one of a pressure activated switch attached to the first housing and extending from the outside to the inside, said pressure activated switch including at least one flexible dome embedded in a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix exposed to the outside of the first housing, the dome in contact with a switch mechanism such that pressing on the dome activates the switch mechanism and pressure applied to the polymer matrix causes the dome to flex thereby activating the switch and the number of flexible domes and the modulus of the polymer matrix selected to cause activation of the switch at a pre-selected pressure as the pressure on the outside of the first housing changes as the first housing is submerged in an ocean environment, e) a control board located on the inside of the first housing the control board including a switching mechanism that provides a single electrical pulse of a pre-selected duration and with a pre-selected delay after power is supplied to the control board from a power supply that is connected in series with one of the at least one magnetic switches and one of the at least one pressure activated switches, f) a global position sensor that is activated by the single electrical pulse of the control board said global position sensor including a satellite sensor to determine the location of the first housing and a VHF radio that broadcasts the position of the first housing. g) a mechanical release mechanism attached to and located on the outside of the first housing said mechanical release mechanism comprising at least one pelican hook that is attached to a hinge on the release mechanism and may be rotated to a closed position thereby latching at least one of an eye, hook and loop to the first housing and said release mechanism including a fusible link that locks the pelican hook in the closed position and releases the pelican hook to an open position upon breaking the fusible link thereby releasing the at least one of eye, hook and loop from the first housing.