An apparatus for use with a submerged compartment is presented. The apparatus includes deployable physical connection hardware provided with the submerged compartment. The deployable physical connection allows for a transfer of fluid between the submerged compartment and a region near a marine free surface when deployed. The deployable physical connection hardware comprises a hose in one aspect.

Systems and methods for deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismic receivers. In some embodiments, the system includes a carrier containing receivers. The carrier can include a frame having a mounted structure (e.g., a movable carousel, movable conveyor, fixed parallel rails, or a barrel) for seating and releasing the receivers (e.g., axially stacked). The structure can facilitate delivering receivers to a discharge port on the frame. The system can include a discharge mechanism for removing receivers from the carrier. In some embodiments, the method includes loading a carrier with receivers, transporting the carrier from a surface vessel to a position adjacent the seabed, and using an ROV to remove receivers from the carrier and place the receivers on the seabed. In some embodiments, an ROV adjacent the seabed engages a deployment line that guides receivers from the vessel down to the ROV for on-time delivery and placement on the seabed.

Systems and methods for deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismic receivers. In some embodiments, the system includes a carrier containing receivers. The carrier can include a frame having a mounted structure (e.g., a movable carousel, movable conveyor, fixed parallel rails, or a barrel) for seating and releasing the receivers (e.g., axially stacked). The structure can facilitate delivering receivers to a discharge port on the frame. The system can include a discharge mechanism for removing receivers from the carrier. In some embodiments, the method includes loading a carrier with receivers, transporting the carrier from a surface vessel to a position adjacent the seabed, and using an ROV to remove receivers from the carrier and place the receivers on the seabed. In some embodiments, an ROV adjacent the seabed engages a deployment line that guides receivers from the vessel down to the ROV for on-time delivery and placement on the seabed.

A control method of a vehicle, comprising: estimating an environment model relating to a search region, based on environment information acquired by an environment sensor, wherein the environment sensor acquires the environment information representing an environment around a local vehicle among one or more vehicles; estimating an effective range based on the estimated environment model, when the local vehicle, and each vehicle among the one or more vehicles move to each candidate destination; and configuring a plurality of sets being configurable by the candidate destinations of all the vehicles, determining, based on the estimated effective range, a certain set, among the plurality of sets, by which an entire size demarcated by the effective range in one set among the plurality of sets becomes maximum.

Systems and methods for deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismic receivers. In some embodiments, the system includes a carrier containing receivers. The carrier can include a frame having a mounted structure (e.g., a movable carousel, movable conveyor, fixed parallel rails, or a barrel) for seating and releasing the receivers (e.g., axially stacked). The structure can facilitate delivering receivers to a discharge port on the frame. The system can include a discharge mechanism for removing receivers from the carrier. In some embodiments, the method includes loading a carrier with receivers, transporting the carrier from a surface vessel to a position adjacent the seabed, and using an ROV to remove receivers from the carrier and place the receivers on the seabed. In some embodiments, an ROV adjacent the seabed engages a deployment line that guides receivers from the vessel down to the ROV for on-time delivery and placement on the seabed.

Systems and methods for deployment and retrieval of ocean bottom seismic receivers. In some embodiments, the system includes a carrier containing receivers. The carrier can include a frame having a mounted structure (e.g., a movable carousel, movable conveyor, fixed parallel rails, or a barrel) for seating and releasing the receivers (e.g., axially stacked). The structure can facilitate delivering receivers to a discharge port on the frame. The system can include a discharge mechanism for removing receivers from the carrier. In some embodiments, the method includes loading a carrier with receivers, transporting the carrier from a surface vessel to a position adjacent the seabed, and using an ROV to remove receivers from the carrier and place the receivers on the seabed. In some embodiments, an ROV adjacent the seabed engages a deployment line that guides receivers from the vessel down to the ROV for on-time delivery and placement on the seabed.

A coupling device for recovering an unmanned ship includes: a coupling unit, which is lifted and lowered by being connected to a crane provided in a mother ship; an accommodation unit provided in the unmanned ship, and having a vertically communicating coupling hole; a guide unit performing guiding such that the coupling unit is coupled to the accommodation unit, and including a towing line formed to be long, and a winch connected to the other side of the towing line so as to selectively wind or unwind the towing line; and a control unit including a sensing part for sensing the tension applied to the towing line by the driving of the winch, and a control part for lowering the coupling unit connected to the crane, if the intensity of the tension sensed by the sensing part is a preset value or higher.

A coupling device for recovering an unmanned ship includes: a coupling unit, which is lifted and lowered by being connected to a crane provided in a mother ship; an accommodation unit provided in the unmanned ship, and having a vertically communicating coupling hole; a guide unit performing guiding such that the coupling unit is coupled to the accommodation unit, and including a towing line formed to be long, and a winch connected to the other side of the towing line so as to selectively wind or unwind the towing line; and a control unit including a sensing part for sensing the tension applied to the towing line by the driving of the winch, and a control part for lowering the coupling unit connected to the crane, if the intensity of the tension sensed by the sensing part is a preset value or higher.

An underwater actuator includes: a housing to be immersed under water; a cylinder chamber formed in the housing; a piston accommodated in the cylinder chamber so the piston is movable in a sliding manner in the cylinder chamber, the piston dividing the cylinder chamber into a first and a second pressure receiving chambers; a rod extending from the piston to the first pressure receiving chamber side, the rod penetrating the housing; a release chamber formed in the housing, having an internal pressure kept lower than a water pressure outside of the housing; and a switching mechanism including: a first switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the outside of the housing to allow or block communication therebetween; and a second switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the release chamber to allow or block communication therebetween.

An underwater actuator includes: a housing to be immersed under water; a cylinder chamber formed in the housing; a piston accommodated in the cylinder chamber so the piston is movable in a sliding manner in the cylinder chamber, the piston dividing the cylinder chamber into a first and a second pressure receiving chambers; a rod extending from the piston to the first pressure receiving chamber side, the rod penetrating the housing; a release chamber formed in the housing, having an internal pressure kept lower than a water pressure outside of the housing; and a switching mechanism including: a first switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the outside of the housing to allow or block communication therebetween; and a second switcher configured to switch a communication state between the second pressure receiving chamber and the release chamber to allow or block communication therebetween.