Systems and methods for displaying a communication from a vessel in a first location to a person or second vessel in a second location are described. The communication system alerts persons and other nearby vessels to the presence of the vessel during fog and other low visibility conditions on a body of water. The communication is displayed by the system in the form of a light display routine that can be a text communication, an image, an animation, a video, or a combination of them. The system includes a computer and a network to communicatively connect the computer to at least one splitter, at least control unit, and at least one light fixture, which can be an array of light emitting diodes. The computer commences the light display routine based on detection of a trigger event by analyzing data received from onboard sensor devices, an external source, or both.

Exemplary systems enable operation of mobile devices underwater. Antennas on a buoy assembly allow a mobile device to maintain wireless communications. A series of cable segments connect a buoy assembly to a waterproof case capable of sealing a mobile device.

Systems and methods are provided for least one leading drone configured to move to a leading drone future location based on a future location of a base station. A set of base station future locations may form a base station path for the base station to traverse. Also, a set of leading drone future locations may form a leading drone path for the leading drone to traverse. The base station's future location may be anticipated from a prediction or a predetermination. The leading drone, navigating along the leading drone path, may collect sensor data and/or perform tasks. The leading drone may interact with sensor drones while traversing the leading drone path. Accordingly, the leading drone may move ahead of the base station in motion, as opposed to following or remaining with the base station.

The present invention provides a board mountable system for filming underwater video. The inventive board mountable system can be mounted to the underside of water vehicles for incorporating a camera for filming from an underwater perspective. The inventive board mountable system is shaped to minimize drag as a result of the mounted camera or camera system. Embodiments of the inventive system includes a fin shaped housing for holding a camera or camera system. In certain embodiments, the fin is removably attached to the water vehicle, such as a surf board, where the fin housing can be swapped with other fins being used with the water vehicle for controlling the direction of a watersports board in motion. These embodiments of the inventive system further include a connection means for connecting the fin to the underside of a water vessel.

Buoyant sensor networks are described, comprising floating buoys with sensors and energy harvesting capabilities. The buoys can control their buoyancy and motion, and can organize communication in a distributed fashion. Some buoys may have tethered underwater vehicles with a smart spooling system that allows the vehicles to dive deep underwater while remaining in communication and connection with the buoys.

An Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder and method for transmitting vessel AIS data can include an onboard processor and database, a VHF AIS transceiver and cellular modem connected to the processor, and a navigation sub-system for providing position inputs to the processor. The processor can include written instructions for transmitting only single sentence AIS messages when the transponder is within R.sub.sAIS of a satellite but outside range R.sub.tAIS of a terrestrial AIS base station, and switching to the base station when the vessel is within R.sub.tAIS but outside of cellular modem range, R.sub.cell. While transmitting to the AIS satellite or AIS base station, portions of the vessel AIS are recorded to the database as historical data. Once within R.sub.cell, the transponder can switch to transmission via cellular modem to an AIS architecture server. Historical data can also be downloaded to complete and update the vessel AIS data profile within AIS.

An apparatus and method for control of at least one of a plurality of semiautonomous marine vessels are provided. The system includes a control station with a communications system for network communication with marine vessels, and provides diagnostics and control for control and monitoring of the marine vessels, according to a mission plan.

Disclosed herein is a floating recovery device for underwater equipment. The device includes a recovery body partitioned into a first compartment, a second compartment, and a third compartment by a partition wall, first and second pressure tanks installed in the first and second compartments, respectively, first and second striking parts fastened to the first and second pressure tanks, respectively, to strike the first and second pressure tanks, first and second actuators wirelessly actuating the first and second striking parts, respectively, and a buoyancy generator installed in the third compartment, and inflated by high-pressure gas introduced from the first and second pressure tanks, thus generating buoyancy. Such a configuration allows the pressure tank to be wirelessly struck for the purpose of supplying high-pressure gas to the buoyancy generator and floating the underwater equipment in the event of the loss of the underwater equipment.

Proposed are an apparatus and a method for tracking location using a control platform of a small buoy for simulating marine pollutants, in which at least one small observation buoy floats on the ocean, and a relay buoy collects location information from the observation buoy and provides the collected location information to a weather information management server. The apparatus may include at least one observation buoy and a relay buoy, the observation buoy including a GPS receiver which receives a signal transmitted from a GPS satellite and generate location information. The apparatus may also include a communicator performing wireless transmission and reception of signals with the relay buoy, and a power source providing driving power to the GPS receiver and the communicator. The relay buoy may receive location information from the at least one observation buoy and provide the received location information to a weather information management server.

The instant invention describes devices and methods of measuring the differential air pressure at numerous representative points across the surface of the sail or sails and providing visual feedback of areas of ideal laminar flow and areas of less than optimal airflow with a calculation of thrust and providing an indication the maximal differential airflow and thrust. The invention utilizes an array of sensors that detect minute variations in barometric pressure and other data on each side of the sail surface. These sensors are connected together to form a network or net across the sail. This connection can be physical, using wires, or it may be wireless, using for example, but certainly not being limited to, Bluetooth LE 5.0 or other wireless topologies or technologies. This can be extended over multiple sails and monitor not only the sail but the interaction of the sails. Finally it can utilize a combination of wired and wireless connections to fit individual situations and can couple with existing terrestrial and satellite ship networks.