The present disclosure relates to methods and a vehicle for enhancing the mechanical dewatering of a slurry. In one aspect, the disclosure concerns a method for enhanced dewatering of a settling pond with a mechanical dewatering vehicle including: measuring one or more properties of a slurry to be deposited in the settling pond; determining a buoyancy profile for the vehicle, based on the one or more properties measured and one or more properties of the vehicle, such that the vehicle is neutrally buoyant in the slurry when deposited in the settling pond; and determining an optimal slurry depth for the slurry to be deposited in the settling pond such that the vehicle is able to maintain substantially shear-free traction as the vehicle traverses the slurry.

An amphibious platform vehicle-vessel to support and to move hydraulically operated and controlled earth-moving and lifting equipment, such as excavators and cranes, on solid ground, semi-solid or marshy ground, shallow water, and deeper water. The modular units can be transported to a worksite on separate trailers and assembled and reconfigured on site. Two compartmented pontoon units are mounted to an adaptive cross member that can accommodate different types of moving-lifting equipment through different mounting flanges, and to auxiliary cross members. Propulsion is provided through amphibious cleats on drive chains in chain tracks driven by dual-motor driving drums and over a tension-adjusting passive chain roller, surrounding a sealed pontoon shell internally reinforced with bulkhead partitions, beam shell-bottom stiffeners, and pressed-angle shell-bottom stiffeners. An extendable auxiliary float can be extended outward from each compartmented pontoon for increased stability in floating operations. Spud units having a chain-drive spud and a spud-driving mount unit with spud-mount wear strips are hydraulically raised and lowered by a spud-driver motor at the command of the equipment operator using a spud-control switch.

A high speed actuation system for protracting and retracting a retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly of an amphibian includes an actuator, at least one retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly comprising at least one wheel and/or track drive supported directly or indirectly by a suspension assembly and movable between a protracted and retracted positions, an energy source for providing power to the actuator, and a controller that controls in amount the power provided by the energy source to the actuator such that the time of actuation to retract the at least one retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly from a protracted position to a retracted position, or to protract the at least one retractable wheel and/or track drive assembly from a retracted position to a protracted position, is less than 5 seconds.

A method for deploying a payload at a subaquatic deployment location includes submersing a submersible aquatic vehicle in a body of water. The submersible aquatic vehicle carries a payload. The method also includes driving the submersible aquatic vehicle to a deployment location under the body of water while the submersible aquatic vehicle carries the payload in a first position. The method additionally includes at the deployment location, moving the payload from the first position to a second position. The method further includes deploying the payload from the second position to a deployment position at the deployment location.

A modular aircraft includes a plurality of structural elements. The structural elements include a pod module assembly, a wing assembly, and a chassis module. The pod module assembly is configured to be selectively attached to and detached from at least one of the chassis module and the wing module when the aircraft is not in flight. The pod module assembly is configured to transport at least one of a passenger and cargo.

A modular aircraft includes a plurality of structural elements. The structural elements include a pod module assembly, a wing assembly, and a chassis module. The pod module assembly is configured to be selectively attached to and detached from at least one of the chassis module and the wing module when the aircraft is not in flight. The pod module assembly is configured to transport at least one of a passenger and cargo.

A vehicle includes a hull defining one or more holes in a keel of the hull. The one or more holes are provided for ice fishing from the one or more holes. The holes include a hatch or a tube extending upwards, for preventing water from entering the hull. The vehicle also includes continuous track assemblies for providing traction on an ice surface. The continuous track assemblies may also provide a motive force when the vehicle is suspended in water. By the hull design, the vehicle may float on the water, allowing the vehicle to access ice surfaces which may otherwise be inaccessible to ice-fishers. The vehicle also increases safety while fishing during thin or unstable ice conditions.

A cruise system using mobility vehicles, may include a cruise ship having a cabin space used as a cabin when a mobility vehicle is aboard. A mobility vehicle is configured to board or disembark the cruise ship, and when aboard, park in the cabin space to serve as a cabin. A connector electrically connects the mobility vehicle and the cruise ship to enable power exchange or data communication between the mobility vehicle and the cruise ship.

An oar for use in propelling a watercraft through water includes a first circular paddle portion. An edge hole extends into an edge of the first paddle portion. The oar also includes a second circular paddle portion, with an edge hole extending into an edge of the second paddle portion. The oar also includes a handle portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first paddle portion edge hole and the handle portion first end are structured so that the handle portion first end is detachably securable in the first paddle portion edge hole. The second paddle portion edge hole and the handle portion second end are structured so that the handle portion second end is detachably securable in the second paddle portion edge hole.

An amphibious vehicle has a floatable vehicle body; ground engaging propulsion structure having a plurality of ground engaging elements powered by a hydraulic motor; a fluid pump for pumping liquid manure; a power source connected to a hydraulic pump and configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the fluid pump; and, remote control structure for controlling the ground engaging propulsion structure and a flow of fluid from the fluid pump. The speed and/or direction of the vehicle is remotely controllable by an operator remote from the vehicle when the vehicle is ground engaging and when the vehicle is floating.