A method including operating vehicles through a medium. The vehicles are subject to advection due to movement of the medium. The vehicles are in sufficient proximity to each other that one or more conditions of the medium are about equivalent for the vehicles. The method also includes applying an incremental sequence of about equivalent thrust forces to the plurality of vehicles to generate about equivalent incremental changes in a plurality of steady-state average drag forces for the plurality of vehicles. The method also includes measuring a plurality of speed changes for the plurality of vehicles. The method also includes calculating, from the plurality of speed changes, a plurality of relative speed performance statistics for relative speed performance between pairs of vehicles, wherein calculating is performed independently of the one or more conditions of the medium.

A method including operating a vehicle in a medium. The vehicle is subject to advection due to movement of the medium. The method also includes measuring, using a navigation system, positions of a vehicle over time. The method also includes measuring, using a directional sensor, a course-through-medium over the time. The method also includes calculating, using the positions and the course-through-medium, a variation of a speed-over-ground of the vehicle over the time as a function of the course-through-medium over the time. The method also includes concurrently estimating, using the variation, 1) an average speed-through-medium for the vehicle over the time, and 2) an advection rate of the medium, and 3) an advection direction of the medium.

A photogrammetry system includes a memory, a processor, and a geo-positioning device. The geo-positioning device outputs telemetry regarding a vehicle on which one or more cameras are mounted. The processor can receive first telemetry from the geo-positioning device characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a first time, camera specification(s) regarding the cameras, photogrammetric requirement(s) for captured images, and a last camera trigger time. The processor can determine a next trigger time for the cameras based upon the received telemetry, camera specification(s), photogrammetric requirement(s), and last trigger time. The processor can transmit a trigger signal to the camera(s) and the geo-positioning device to cause the camera(s) to acquire images of a target and the geo-positioning device to store second vehicle telemetry data characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a second time that is after the first time and during acquisition of the images. The processor can receive the acquired images from the cameras.

A photogrammetry system includes a memory, a processor, and a geo-positioning device. The geo-positioning device outputs telemetry regarding a vehicle on which one or more cameras are mounted. The processor can receive first telemetry from the geo-positioning device characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a first time, camera specification(s) regarding the cameras, photogrammetric requirement(s) for captured images, and a last camera trigger time. The processor can determine a next trigger time for the cameras based upon the received telemetry, camera specification(s), photogrammetric requirement(s), and last trigger time. The processor can transmit a trigger signal to the camera(s) and the geo-positioning device to cause the camera(s) to acquire images of a target and the geo-positioning device to store second vehicle telemetry data characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a second time that is after the first time and during acquisition of the images. The processor can receive the acquired images from the cameras.

A method of manufacturing an optical fiber probe includes: stretching one end of the optical fiber in an axial direction thereof to form a first tapered portion in a first conical shape in which a diameter is gradually decreased toward a leading end of the optical fiber probe at a first ratio in an axial direction of the optical fiber probe to a point spaced a predetermined distance from a point fixed to a probe holder; and immersing and etching an end of the first tapered portion in an etching solution to form a second tapered portion formed in a second conical shape in which a diameter is gradually decreased at a second ratio greater than the first ratio in the axial direction from an end of the first tapered portion to form the leading end of the optical fiber probe.

A watchtower vehicle, including: a top plate engaged with a top of a vehicle; an extendable boom, with a first end thereof engaged with the top plate, wherein the extendable boom is allowed to be inclined from a vertical axis of the top plate within a first angle range; a main sensor mounting unit, engaged with a second end of the extendable boom, for mounting at least one sensor thereon, wherein the main sensor mounting unit is allowed to be inclined from a longitudinal axis of the extendable boom within a second angle range; a sensor module unit including the sensor mounted on the main sensor mounting unit; and a control module for controlling or supporting another module to control at least one of the extendable boom within the first angle range and the main sensor mounting unit within the second angle range.

Reception unit receives data indicating water temperature of a body of water through which a vessel voyages, vessel speed, and a period for which those values are maintained. From storage unit, index value acquisition unit reads out a decrease amount of anti-fouling paint corresponding to the water temperature and vessel speed received by reception unit. Index value specification unit specifies a decrease amount of anti-fouling paint in the period by multiplying the length of time of the period received by reception unit by the decrease amount read out by index value acquisition unit. Remaining amount acquisition unit integrates the decrease amounts of the anti-fouling paint specified by index value specification unit at the time of coating with the anti-fouling paint and onward. Remaining amount specification unit specifies a current paint film thickness of the anti-fouling paint by subtracting the decrease amount of the anti-fouling paint integrated by remaining amount acquisition unit from the paint film thickness at the time of coating with the anti-fouling paint.

Reception unit receives data indicating water temperature of a body of water through which a vessel voyages, vessel speed, and a period for which those values are maintained. From storage unit, index value acquisition unit reads out a decrease amount of anti-fouling paint corresponding to the water temperature and vessel speed received by reception unit. Index value specification unit specifies a decrease amount of anti-fouling paint in the period by multiplying the length of time of the period received by reception unit by the decrease amount read out by index value acquisition unit. Remaining amount acquisition unit integrates the decrease amounts of the anti-fouling paint specified by index value specification unit at the time of coating with the anti-fouling paint and onward. Remaining amount specification unit specifies a current paint film thickness of the anti-fouling paint by subtracting the decrease amount of the anti-fouling paint integrated by remaining amount acquisition unit from the paint film thickness at the time of coating with the anti-fouling paint.

A photogrammetry system includes a memory, a processor, and a geo-positioning device. The geo-positioning device outputs telemetry regarding a vehicle on which one or more cameras are mounted. The processor can receive first telemetry from the geo-positioning device characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a first time, camera specification(s) regarding the cameras, photogrammetric requirement(s) for captured images, and a last camera trigger time. The processor can determine a next trigger time for the cameras based upon the received telemetry, camera specification(s), photogrammetric requirement(s), and last trigger time. The processor can transmit a trigger signal to the camera(s) and the geo-positioning device to cause the camera(s) to acquire images of a target and the geo-positioning device to store second vehicle telemetry data characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a second time that is after the first time and during acquisition of the images. The processor can receive the acquired images from the cameras.

A photogrammetry system includes a memory, a processor, and a geo-positioning device. The geo-positioning device outputs telemetry regarding a vehicle on which one or more cameras are mounted. The processor can receive first telemetry from the geo-positioning device characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a first time, camera specification(s) regarding the cameras, photogrammetric requirement(s) for captured images, and a last camera trigger time. The processor can determine a next trigger time for the cameras based upon the received telemetry, camera specification(s), photogrammetric requirement(s), and last trigger time. The processor can transmit a trigger signal to the camera(s) and the geo-positioning device to cause the camera(s) to acquire images of a target and the geo-positioning device to store second vehicle telemetry data characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a second time that is after the first time and during acquisition of the images. The processor can receive the acquired images from the cameras.