Patent Document ID: 8297162
Application ID: 11794106
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of identifying an undersea object, comprising: suspending an undersea intervention robot via a cable from an aircraft configured for stationary flight; using a geographical positioning device to place the undersea intervention robot vertically over a known geographical position of the undersea object, the undersea intervention robot including a detection device configured to detect an undersea object, said detection device being connected to a control device; using a winch to lower the undersea intervention robot and submerge the undersea intervention robot beneath the water surface in the vicinity of the undersea object, the undersea intervention robot presenting a specific gravity greater than 1 and presenting a weight, when immersed, such that the cable remains taut and such that the undersea intervention robot exerts a downward force upon the aircraft; using the detection device to locate the undersea object; moving the aircraft and actuating the winch to move the submerged intervention robot in a position near to the undersea object to enable the detection device to identify the undersea object; upon identification of the undersea object as an undersea mine, triggering an intervention device of the undersea intervention robot to interact with the undersea mine; and moving the intervention robot away from the undersea object, wherein the undersea intervention robot comprises: a vertical cylindrical body with a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion including a stabilization device, the stabilization device comprising two movable arms, an end of each movable arm having a paddle, and each of the arms actuated by a motor controlled by a regulator device that, in use, keeps a reference point of the robot stable on a pre-determined heading, and the bottom portion comprising the detection device, whereby the detection device is comprised of a vertical TV camera, a vertically directed lighting device, one or more panoramic TV cameras, at least one additional lighting device associated with the one or more panoramic TV cameras, and a high frequency sonar movably mounted to the cylindrical body and configured to, in use, scan a horizon about the intervention robot, wherein the intervention device comprises two explosive charges, each explosive charge having an annular shape and a time delayable firing device primable in a predetermined time window by an acoustic signal, and wherein the explosive charges of the intervention device are held on the intervention robot by a holding device and separately releasable from the intervention robot.