A floating mirror includes a buoyant body extending between a first end and a second end, and a reflective material disposed on opposite surfaces of the buoyant body.

A docking system to aid in docking a boat includes an elongate member that engages the dock and a distal end extending into the body of water away from the dock. A line having configured to attach to the beach or walkway is connected to a distal end of the elongate member. A first connecting assembly, including a first line that is releasably securable to the dock and a float secured to a distal portion of the first line, engages a distal portion of the elongate member. A second connecting assembly comprising a second line is releasably securable to the dock. At least two elongate floats are secured to the second line. The second connecting assembly is connected to the float of the first connecting assembly, and the second connecting assembly is longer than the first line.

A docking system to aid in docking a boat includes an elongate member that engages the dock and a distal end extending into the body of water away from the dock. A line having configured to attach to the beach or walkway is connected to a distal end of the elongate member. A first connecting assembly, including a first line that is releasably securable to the dock and a float secured to a distal portion of the first line, engages a distal portion of the elongate member. A second connecting assembly comprising a second line is releasably securable to the dock. At least two elongate floats are secured to the second line. The second connecting assembly is connected to the float of the first connecting assembly, and the second connecting assembly is longer than the first line.

A mooring system including a plurality of connected floats and weights being positively buoyant on a water surface and being negatively buoyant at a depth below the water surface. The mooring system also includes a trigger mechanism arranged to reduce the buoyancy of a portion of the connected floats and weights from a being positively buoyant to negatively buoyant to cause the portion of the connected floats and weights to sink below the water surface where the trigger mechanism changes the buoyance of the portion of the connected floats and weights by either adding a weight to one end or separating the end from a buoyant element.

Disclosed is a novel type of computing apparatus which is integrated within a buoy that obtains the energy required to power its computing operations from waves that travel across the surface of the body of water on which the buoy floats. Additionally, these self-powered computing buoys utilize their close proximity to a body of water in order to significantly lower the cost and complexity of cooling their computing circuits. Computing tasks of an arbitrary nature are supported, as is the incorporation and/or utilization of computing circuits specialized for the execution of specific types of computing tasks. And, each buoy's receipt of a computational task, and its return of a computational result, may be accomplished through the transmission of data across satellite links, fiber optic cables, LAN cables, radio, modulated light, microwaves, and/or any other channel, link, connection, and/or network.

Disclosed is a novel type of computing apparatus which is integrated within a buoy that obtains the energy required to power its computing operations from waves that travel across the surface of the body of water on which the buoy floats. Additionally, these self-powered computing buoys utilize their close proximity to a body of water in order to significantly lower the cost and complexity of cooling their computing circuits. Computing tasks of an arbitrary nature are supported, as is the incorporation and/or utilization of computing circuits specialized for the execution of specific types of computing tasks. And, each buoy's receipt of a computational task, and its return of a computational result, may be accomplished through the transmission of data across satellite links, fiber optic cables, LAN cables, radio, modulated light, microwaves, and/or any other channel, link, connection, and/or network.

Some embodiments are directed to a process for making a syntactic foam. Some other embodiments are directed to a process for manufacturing a buoyancy material including an outer shell and a syntactic foam. Still other embodiments are directed to the syntactic foam (or buoyancy foam) obtainable by this process. Some other embodiments are directed to a process of undersea extraction of oil including: using the syntactic. Still other embodiments are directed to an undersea extracting pipeline including a pipeline, and either the syntactic foam or the buoyancy material.

An emergency ship arrest system includes a vessel attachment system, a retrieving system, and an anchor system. The vessel attachment system is configured to connect to a vessel at sea, and includes a bridle system and a hawser line. The bridle system is operatively connected to the hawser line's proximal end. The bridle system is configured to engage at least four fittings on a foredeck of the vessel to distribute the load over the foredeck. The retrieving system includes a retrieving line with a proximal end that is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a setup position. The anchor system includes a main rode and a para sea anchor. The main rode's proximal end is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in an anchor position.

A method and apparatus for raising a self-propelled pool cleaner from a surface of a pool. The cleaner includes an interior chamber, a lower portion with an inlet and an upper portion with an outlet. Rotatably-mounted supports guide the cleaner along the pool surface. An interior water pump draws water/debris through the inlet, the debris is filtered in the interior chamber, and filtered water exits through the outlet to propel the cleaner during a cleaning operation. A buoy assembly is tethered to the cleaner via a retractable cable. When the cleaner is submerged, the cable is released and the buoy assembly floats on the water surface while tethered to the submerged cleaner. The cleaner can receive a command signal from a controller to exit from the pool, and the cable is retracted to cause the cleaner to rise from the submerged surface of the pool.

A method and apparatus for raising a self-propelled pool cleaner from a surface of a pool. The cleaner includes an interior chamber, a lower portion with an inlet and an upper portion with an outlet. Rotatably-mounted supports guide the cleaner along the pool surface. An interior water pump draws water/debris through the inlet, the debris is filtered in the interior chamber, and filtered water exits through the outlet to propel the cleaner during a cleaning operation. A buoy assembly is tethered to the cleaner via a retractable cable. When the cleaner is submerged, the cable is released and the buoy assembly floats on the water surface while tethered to the submerged cleaner. The cleaner can receive a command signal from a controller to exit from the pool, and the cable is retracted to cause the cleaner to rise from the submerged surface of the pool.