AUTOMATED MARINE VESSEL STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM

Abstract

A system and method for automated marine vessel storage and retrieval in connection with a residential building is disclosed. The system and method include lifting device to vertically move the marine vessel in and out of a wet dock to and from land transfer height. A cradle engages the hull of the marine vessel and also engages a robotic carrier capable of moving said marine vessel horizontally and vertically to or from an internal storage location. The robotic carrier may receive instructions from a controller. A resident of the residential building may provide instructions to the robotic carrier using the controller to retrieve a marine vessel from storage and launch in the wet dock or transport a marine vessel from the wet dock to a storage location.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a system, method, and non-transitory computer-readable device for automated marine vessel storage, retrieval, and launch of a marine vessel as part of a residential building.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Adequate storage for marine vessels is an ever-growing problem in most major cities in the world. Conventional marine vessel storage facilities are constructed in such a manner that, in order to store a marine vessel, a vessel is manually piloted to wet dock or slip. In some instances, the marine vessel may remain in the wet dock or slip and stored there between uses. In other instances, the marine vessel may be removed from the water and stored in a storage facility on land. A vessel may be lifted out of the water using a lift, crane, or other device. The lift device may be automated, operated by the pilot, or by an attendant at the marine vessel facility. The marine vessel is then transferred from the lift device to a transport device. The transport device, such as a forklift or other transport vehicle to transport the marine vessel removes the marine vessel from the lift device and transports the marine vessel to a storage slip. The storage slip may be inside a warehouse or outside. The transport vehicle may be manually maneuvered by a pilot, an attendant, or automated to transport the marine vessel to its destination, usually an indoor or outdoor marine vessel rack. In order to remove a marine vessel from storage and place in the water for use, the systems and method may be reversed.

The conventional systems and methods of retrieving, storing, and launching marine vessels requires a significant amount of time, different systems, several steps, and a considerable amount of skill and experience from its human operators to execute without damaging the marine vessel. Even if certain of the steps for storage and retrieval are partially or fully automated, conventional systems and methods are limited in their ability to utilize space for storage. Typically, in an outdoor or indoor storage facility, the garage surface area includes a lot of “dead space” in conventional marine vessel storage facilities that cannot be used for storage. Such “dead space’ includes aisles or driving lanes that must be provided between oppositely oriented marine vessel racks to permit the forklift or other transportation device to drive between the spaces and maneuver the vessels into the marine vessel rack. There is a need to improve systems and methods for retrieving, storing, and launching a marine vehicle, while maximize the storage capability of marine vessels and reducing the risk of property damage or injury.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention discloses a system for automated vessel storage. The system comprises a storage structure, the storage structure comprising a plurality of storage locations inside the storage structure. The system also comprises a residential structure comprising a plurality residential unit, wherein said residential structure is connected to the storage structure. The system also includes a wet dock that receives a marine vessel, said wet dock including a lift, wherein said lift has a cradle portion on the top of the lift to engage the marine vessel, said lift elevates said cradle holding the marine vessel to a land transfer height such that said marine vessel is removed from the water, and said cradle is transferred to a robotic carrier to move the cradle holding the marine vessel horizontally and vertically to transport the marine vessel to a storage location within the storage structure.

Another embodiment of the invention discloses a system for automated vessel retrieval from storage. The system comprises a storage structure, the storage structure comprising a plurality of storage locations inside the storage structure. The system also comprises a residential structure comprising a plurality residential units, wherein said residential structure is connected to the storage structure, a cradle to hold a marine vessel, a robotic carrier to engage the cradle, whereas, said robotic carrier receives instructions to locate and retrieve said marine vessel. The robotic carrier engages the cradle to retrieve said marine vessel and move said marine vessel horizontally and vertically to arrive at land transfer height, said cradle holding said marine vessel is transferred to a wet dock, said wet dock including a lift, said lift receiving said cradle holding said marine vessel at land transfer height and lifting said marine vessel below land transfer height into water.

Another embodiment of the invention discloses a computer-implemented method of automatically storing, retrieving, and launching a marine vessel. The method comprises receiving a request from a communication device associated with a resident of a residential complex, determining whether the request is to store or launch a marine vessel associated with the resident, retrieving the marine vessel from a storage location if the request is to launch the marine vessel, wherein retrieving the marine vessel from the storage location further comprises: locating the storage location of the marine vessel within a storage complex; transporting the marine vessel from the storage location to a wet dock using a robotic carrier; transferring the marine vessel from the robotic carrier; and placing the marine vessel in a body of water. The method further comprises retrieving the marine vessel from the wet dock if the request is to store the marine vessel, wherein retrieving the marine vessel from the wet dock further comprises: lifting the marine vessel out of the body of water; placing the marine vessel on the robotic carrier; and transporting the marine vessel from the wet dock to the storage location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a cross-sectional diagram of a residential building with automotive vehicle and marine vessel storage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is process flow diagram illustrating an example of a method for storing, retrieving, and launching a marine vessel or automotive vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a control system that may be used with a residential building with an automotive vehicle and marine vessel storage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid the unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures may not be depicted to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In general, systems and methods for automated marine vessel and automotive storage are described herein. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

In the example of FIG. 1, an automated marine vessel storage system 100 is disclosed. In the embodiment of system 100, said automated marine vessel storage system provides greater safety than conventional systems, is more efficient in marine vessels are stored and retrieved in less time than conventional systems, provides increased security in that marine vessels are not exposed to weather elements, provides less risk of human error due to automation, and are secured from the general public, mitigating the risk of damage or theft. In the embodiment of system 100, the system 100 includes a residential structure 200 and a storage structure 300. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the storage structure 300 consists of a storage area for marine vessel storage. The storage structure 300 may also include a storage area for automotive storage. In an embodiment, the storage structure 300 may also include a storage area for storage containers 700. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the residential structure 200 and storage structure 300 may be portions of the same building structure. As shown, the residential structure 200 is the top portion of the building which includes residential units, such as condominiums, offices, or other spaces in which people may live, work, shop, or participate in entertainment. The storage structure 300 is the lower portion of the building and may include storage areas to store marine vessels such as boats, automotive vehicles such as cars, storage containers, or some combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the storage structure 300 comprises a plurality of levels. The marine vessels may be stored in the storage structure 300. The storage structure 300 may include a storage elevator 302, for use by humans. In an embodiment, each level of the storage structure 300 comprises a plurality of storage units 301 for storing marine vessels 400 and automobiles 500. In an embodiment storage structure 300 may also comprise a plurality of storage units 301 for storing storage containers 700. The storage structure 300 includes an entrance and exit for marine vessels to allow the marine vessels to be removed from the water and stored in the storage structure 300. The entrance and exit of the storage structure 300 also allows the marine vessels to be removed from the storage structure 300 and launched in the water. The storage structure 300 includes automated systems and method to remove a marine vessel from the water, transport the marine vessel from outdoors to inside the storage structure 300. In an embodiment, the marine vessel may be transported from the outdoors to inside the storage structure 300 via a transportation shuttle. The automated systems and methods can also identify a storage location for the marine vessel inside the storage structure 300 and transport the marine vessel to the identified storage location. The automated system of the storage structure 300 may also include systems and methods to locate a certain marine vessel at a particular storage location in the storage structure 300. The automated system of the storage structure may transport the marine vessel from the storage location inside the storage structure 300 to a transportation shuttle or other device to transport the marine vessel from inside the storage structure 300 to outside the storage structure. The automated system and method may also include a lift to transport the marine vessel from the land to the water.

In an embodiment, only marine vessels may be stored and transported in and out of the storage structure 300. Alternatively, both marine vessels and automotive vehicles such as cars may be stored and transported in and out of the storage structure 300. In another embodiment, marine vessels, automotive vehicles, and storage containers, or some combination thereof, may be stored and transported in and out of the storage structure 300. In the embodiment in which both marine vessels and automotive vehicles may be stored in the storage structure 300, the building may have an entrance and exit for automotive vehicles and a separate entrance and exit for marine vessels. The storage structure 300 may have different portions. In an embodiment, the storage structure 300 may have a portion in which marine vessels are stored and a portion where automotive vehicles are stored. There may also be a portion where storage containers are stored. In an embodiment, certain floors of the storage structure 300 may be used to store marine vessels whereas other floors may be used to store automotive vehicles. In other embodiments certain floors of the storage structure 300 may be used to store storage containers. In other embodiments, marine vessels may be stored on multiple floors such that the storage locations of the marine vessels are efficient for the automated system to store and retrieve the vessels. The automotive vehicles may be stored on multiple floors of the storage structure 300 such that the storage locations of the automotive vehicles are efficient for the automated system to store and retrieve the automotive vehicles. In an embodiment, there may be a first automated system to store and retrieve marine vessels and a second automated system to store and retrieve automotive vehicles. In an alternative embodiment, the storage structure 300 includes an automated system to store and retrieve marine vessels and a designated portion for automotive vehicles to be parked and retrieved by a human. The residential structure 300 comprises a plurality of levels connected by a residential elevator 202, each level comprising a plurality of residential units 201.

Each marine vessel 400 is transported using an automated carrier 401. The automated carrier 401 may be a cradle to hold the marine vessel, a wheeled structure, a structure that is supported and moved by rails, a structure moved by crane, or some other structure designed to hold the marine vessel and allow movement inside and, in certain embodiments, outside the storage structure 300. The automated marine vessel storage system 100 further includes a wet dock 600 from which marine vessels 600 can be launched and/or collected. The wet dock 600 may be outside the storage structure 300. In an embodiment, the wet dock 600 includes a lift that will lift marine vessels out of the water and transfer the marine vessels to the automated carrier 401. The wet dock 600 may also be used to return marine vessels to the water. In another embodiment, the wet dock 600 may be the outdoor portion of a wet slip that can act as a shuttle slip for vessels to be transferred inside the storage structure 300. Once inside the storage structure 300, marine vessels may be removed from the water and transferred to storage. A vessel may also be returned to water inside the storage structure 300.

As shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary method 200 for automatically storing, retrieving, and launching a marine vessel is schematically illustrated. The method 200 may include, at step 202, receiving a request from a communication device 111 associated with a resident 110 of the residential structure 300. For example, the resident 110 may submit the request through a software application that is downloaded, installed, or otherwise accessed the software application on the communication device 111. Users other than residents may submit requests and communicate on the communication device 111. In certain embodiments, the providing of the software application may be performed and/or facilitated by utilizing the communication device 111, the server 140, the server 150, the server 160, the communications network 136, the external network 165, the database 155, the vessel 400, any appropriate program, device, network, and/or process of the system 100, or a combination thereof. At step 204, the method 200 may include determining whether the request is to store or launch the marine vessel. In an embodiment, a storage container 700 may be automatically stored and retrieved in a similar manner as method 200.

If at step 204, it is determined that the request is to launch the marine vessel 400 at wet dock 600, then the method 200 will commence at step 206. At step 208, the method 200 may include locating, via the application, the storage location of the marine vessel within storage complex associated with the resident 110. In certain embodiments, the providing may be performed and/or facilitated by utilizing the communication device 111, the server 140, the server 150, the server 160, the communications network 136, the external network 165, the database 155, the marine vessel 400, any appropriate program, device, network, and/or process of the system 100, or a combination thereof. At step 210, the method 200 may include transporting the marine vessel 400 from storage location 301 to the wet dock 600 using robotic carrier 401. At step 212, the method 200 may include lifting the marine vessel 400 out of the robotic carrier 401. At step 214, the method 200 may include determining and/or displaying a status associated with the service and/or product ordered by the customer.

At step 208, the method 200 may include displaying the location of the marine vessel 400 associated with resident 110 on a digital map via the graphical resident 110 interface of the software application. For example, the location of the marine vessel 400 associated with resident 110 may be identified on a digital map so that the resident 110 can readily view the status of the retrieval of the marine vessel 400. Users other than residents may submit requests and communicate on the communication device 111. In addition, or in place of displaying the location on a digital map may include status updates as to the location of the marine vessel 400. For example, a status update may include push notifications such as, “Stored,” “In Motion,” “Passing Lobby,” “Outside,” “Wet Slip,” “Wet Dock,” or “Ready to Board.” Such notifications can potentially include the location of the marine vessel when it is ready to board, or the storage location when the marine vessel is stored. In certain embodiments, the displaying may be performed and/or facilitated by utilizing the communication device 111, the server 140, the server 150, the server 160, the communications network 136, the external network 165, the database 155, the marine vessel 400, any appropriate program, device, network, and/or process of the system 100, or a combination thereof.

To engage the process to store a marine vessel, a marine vessel is driven by a vessel captain into a wet dock. In an embodiment, the wet dock includes a lift with a cradle. The vessel and cradle are elevated to land transfer height. The cradle, with the marine vessel on top, is then transferred to a robotic carrier. The cradle, with the marine vessel on top, is transferred between shuttles and lifts, in three dimensions, until it arrives at its designated storage location. To launch the boat the reverse process takes place.

If at step 204, it is determined that the request is to store the marine vessel 400 at its designated storage location 301 within storage structure 300, then the method 200 will commence at step 207. At step 209, the method 200 may include lifting the marine vessel 400 out of the water using a robotic lift. In an embodiment, each marine vessel will remain on a cradle throughout the storage, launch and transfer process. The cradle may be transferred between carriers that can move forward, lateral, up, and down. At step 211, the robotic lift will place the marine vessel 400 on a robotic carrier 401. At step 213, the method 200 may include locating, via the application, the storage location 301 of the marine vessel 400 within the storage structure 300 associated with the resident 110 and transporting the marine vessel 400 from the wet dock 600 to its designated storage location 301 using the robotic carrier 401. In certain embodiments, the providing may be performed and/or facilitated by utilizing the communication device 111, the server 140, the server 150, the server 160, the communications network 136, the external network 165, the database 155, the marine vessel 400, any appropriate program, device, network, and/or process of the system 100, or a combination thereof.

At step 209, the method 200 may include displaying the location of the marine vessel 400 associated with resident 110 on a digital map via the graphical resident 110 interface of the software application. For example, the location of the marine vessel 400 associated with resident 110 may be identified on a digital map so that the resident 110 can readily view the status of the retrieval of the marine vessel 400. In addition, or in place of displaying the location on a digital map may include status updates as to the location of the marine vessel 400. For example, a status update may include push notifications such as, “Stored,” “In Motion,” “Passing Lobby,” “Outside,” “Wet Slip,” “Wet Dock,” or “Ready to Board.” Such notifications can potentially include the location of the marine vessel when it is ready to board, or the storage location when the marine vessel is stored. In certain embodiments, the displaying may be performed and/or facilitated by utilizing the communication device 111, the server 140, the server 150, the server 160, the communications network 136, the external network 165, the database 155, the marine vessel 400, any appropriate program, device, network, and/or process of the system 100, or a combination thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3, the marine vessel 400 may include a memory 116 that stores instructions and a processor 117 that executes the instructions to perform the various operations of the marine vessel 400. The memory 116 and process 117 may be software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software. In certain embodiments, the memory 116 and the processor 117 may be in a computing device that is in, on, or in proximity to the marine vessel 400. For example, in certain embodiments, the computing device may be a smartphone that a resident 110 is using while in the marine vessel 400, such as communication device 111. The marine vessel 400 and/or the computing device in the marine vessel 400 may also include a GPS 118, which may be configured to provide the location of the marine vessel 400 and/or resident 110 using the computing device in proximity to the marine vessel 400. The GPS 118 may include a receiver and any other necessary components for enabling GPS functionality. The marine vessel 400 and/or the computing device in proximity to the marine vessel 400 may include accelerometers, gyroscopes, sensors, and/or any other componentry. In certain embodiments, the software application providing the functionality of the system 100 may operate directly on the marine vessel 400 and/or the computing device in proximity to the marine vessel 400. In certain embodiments, the software application providing the functionality and features of the system 100 may be configured to execute on the marine vessel 400 itself and/or the computing device in proximity to the marine vessel 400. The marine vessel 400 and/or computing device may also have an interface that allows a resident 110 to interact with the various features and functionality of the application. The operation of the software application, marine vessel 400, and/or components of the system 100 is further explained by the method 200 described above.

The system 100 may utilize a communication device 111 operated by a resident 110 to access data, content, and applications, or to perform a variety of other tasks and functions. The resident 110 may utilize communication device 111 to access an application (e.g. a browser or a mobile application) executing on the communication device 111 that may be utilized to access web pages, data, and content associated with the system 100. The communication device 111 may include a memory 112 that includes instructions, and a processor 113 that executes the instructions from the memory 112 to perform the various operations that are performed by the communication device 111. In certain embodiments, the processor 113 may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The communication device 111 may also include an interface 114 (e.g. a screen, a monitor, a graphical user interface, etc.) that may enable the communication 110 to interact with various applications executing on the communication device 111, to interact with various applications executing in the system 100, and to interact with the system 100. In certain embodiments, the communication device 111 may be a computer, a laptop, a tablet device, a phablet, a server, a mobile device, a smartphone, a smart watch, and/or any other type of computing device. Illustratively, the communication device 111 may be a computing device in FIG. 1. The communication device 111 may also include a GPS, which may include a GPS receiver and any other necessary components for enabling GPS functionality, accelerometers, gyroscopes, sensors, and any other componentry suitable for a mobile device.

Notably, the functionality of the system 100 may be supported and executed by using any combination of the servers 140, 150, and 160. The servers 140, and 150 may reside in communications network 135, however, in certain embodiments, the servers 140, 150 may reside outside communications network 135. The servers 140, and 150 may be utilized to perform the various operations and functions provided by the system 100, such as those requested by applications executing on the first and second user devices 102, 111. In certain embodiments, the server 140 may include a memory 141 that includes instructions, and a processor 142 that executes the instructions from the memory 141 to perform various operations that are performed by the server 140. The processor 142 may be hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Similarly, the server 150 may include a memory 151 that includes instructions, and a processor 152 that executes the instructions from the memory 151 to perform the various operations that are performed by the server 150. In certain embodiments, the servers 140, 150, and 160 may be network servers, routers, gateways, switches, media distribution hubs, signal transfer points, service control points, service switching points, firewalls, routers, edge devices, nodes, computers, mobile devices, or any other suitable computing device, or any combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the servers 140, 150 may be communicatively linked to the communications network 135, any network, any device in the system 100, or any combination thereof.

The database 155 of the system 100 may be utilized to store and relay information that traverses the system 100, cache information and/or content that traverses the system 100, store data about each of the devices in the system 100, and perform any other typical functions of a database. In certain embodiments, the database 155 may store the output from any operation performed by the system 100, operations performed and/or outputted by the marine vessel 400 and/or components of the marine vessel 400, operations performed and/or outputted by any component, program, process, device, network of the system 100, or any combination thereof. For example, the database 155 may store data from the marine vessel 400, data from the communication devices 102, 111, location data provided by any devices and/or components of the system 100, any other data, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the database 155 may be connected to or reside within the communications network 135, any other network, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, the database 155 may serve as a central repository for any information associated with any of the devices and information associated with the system 100. Furthermore, the database 155 may include a processor and memory or be connected to a processor and memory to perform the various operations associated with the database 155. In certain embodiments, the database 155 may be connected to the servers 140, 150, 160, the first communication device 102, the resident communication device 111, the marine vessel 400, any devices in the system 100, any other device, any network, or any combination thereof.

Claims

1. A system for automated vessel storage, comprising: a storage structure, the storage structure comprising a plurality of storage locations inside the storage structure;a residential structure comprising a plurality residential units, wherein said residential structure is connected to the storage structure;a wet dock that receives a marine vessel, said wet dock including a lift, wherein said lift has a cradle portion on the top of the lift to engage the marine vessel;said lift elevates said cradle holding the marine vessel to a land transfer height such that said marine vessel is removed from the water;said cradle is transferred to a robotic carrier to move the cradle holding the marine vessel horizontally and vertically to transport the marine vessel to a storage location within the storage structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage structure includes storage locations for automotive vehicles.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage structure incudes storage locations for storage containers.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the residential structure is the upper portion of a building and the storage structure is the lower portion of a building.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a controller configured to receive instructions from a human user.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said controller is configured to receive instructions to store said marine vessel in said storage structure.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said controller may identify status information to the user as to the status of the storage of the marine vessel.

8. A system for automated vessel retrieval from storage, comprising: a storage structure, the storage structure comprising a plurality of storage locations inside the storage structure;a residential structure comprising a plurality residential units, wherein said residential structure is connected to the storage structure;a cradle to hold a marine vessel;a robotic carrier to engage the cradle; whereas, said robotic carrier receives instructions to locate and retrieve said marine vessel; said robotic carrier engages the cradle to retrieve said marine vessel and move said marine vessel horizontally and vertically to arrive at land transfer height;said cradle holding said marine vessel is transferred to a wet dock, said wet dock including a lift;said lift receiving said cradle holding said marine vessel at land transfer height and lifting said marine vessel below land transfer height into water.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said storage structure includes storage locations for automotive vehicles.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said storage structure incudes storage locations for storage containers.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the residential structure is the upper portion of a building and the storage structure is the lower portion of a building.

12. The system of claim 8, further including a controller configured to receive instructions from a human user.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said controller is configured to receive instructions to retrieve said marine vessel from said storage structure.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said controller may identify status information to the user as to the status of the retrieval of the marine vessel.

15. A computer-implemented method of automatically storing, retrieving, and launching a marine vessel comprising: receiving a request from a communication device associated with a resident of a residential complex;determining whether the request is to store or launch a marine vessel associated with the resident;retrieving the marine vessel from a storage location if the request is to launch the marine vessel, wherein retrieving the marine vessel from the storage location further comprises: locating the storage location of the marine vessel within a storage complex;transporting the marine vessel from the storage location to a wet dock using a robotic carrier;transferring the marine vessel from the robotic carrier; andplacing the marine vessel in a body of water;retrieving the marine vessel from the wet dock if the request is to store the marine vessel, wherein retrieving the marine vessel from the wet dock further comprises: lifting the marine vessel out of the body of water;placing the marine vessel on the robotic carrier; andtransporting the marine vessel from the wet dock to the storage location.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the storage location is associated with the resident.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein said marine vessel is secured outside of the water using a cradle that engages the hull of said marine vessel.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein said cradle engages the robotic carrier and said robotic carrier is capable of moving said cradle in three-dimensions.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, further including a controller configured to receive instructions from a human user.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein said controller receives instructions to retrieve said marine vessel from said storage structure.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein said controller receives instructions to store said marine vessel in said storage structure.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein said controller is configured to receive status information regarding the status of the marine vessel during retrieval and storage.