An autonomous lifebuoy includes a body, an electric power supply, a propelling module and a control unit configured to control the autonomous lifebuoy so as to automatically guide the autonomous lifebuoy towards a person overboard in water, during a man overboard (MOB) situation. The control unit includes at least one communication module, a non-volatile memory, a graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to perform an image comparison and a microcomputer configured to make calculations, based on at least the image comparison performed by the graphics processing unit (GPU), and issue commands to at least the propelling module to propel the autonomous lifebuoy towards the person overboard in the water during the man overboard (MOB) situation.

An autonomous lifebuoy includes a body, an electric power supply, a propelling module and a control unit configured to control the autonomous lifebuoy so as to automatically guide the autonomous lifebuoy towards a person overboard in water, during a man overboard (MOB) situation. The control unit includes at least one communication module, a non-volatile memory, a graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to perform an image comparison and a microcomputer configured to make calculations, based on at least the image comparison performed by the graphics processing unit (GPU), and issue commands to at least the propelling module to propel the autonomous lifebuoy towards the person overboard in the water during the man overboard (MOB) situation.

A combined paddle and pump can be used to propel a small boat. The handle telescopes with a locking nut that may be loosened to allow extension and retraction of the handle. The handle is hollow throughout and a pair of check valves are provided. One check valve opens when the handle is extended and the other opens when the handle is retracted. When one check valve is open, the other is closed. When the distal end of the paddle is placed within a volume of water or exposed to atmospheric, extension and retraction of the handle results in a fluid first being sucked into the hollow interior of the handle and then propelled out of the handle. A seal assembly prevents debris from binding tubes of the handle.

A combined paddle and pump can be used to propel a small boat. The handle telescopes with a locking nut that may be loosened to allow extension and retraction of the handle. The handle is hollow throughout and a pair of check valves are provided. One check valve opens when the handle is extended and the other opens when the handle is retracted. When one check valve is open, the other is closed. When the distal end of the paddle is placed within a volume of water or exposed to atmospheric, extension and retraction of the handle results in a fluid first being sucked into the hollow interior of the handle and then propelled out of the handle. A seal assembly prevents debris from binding tubes of the handle.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide visually correlated radar imagery for mobile structures. A visually correlated radar imagery system includes a radar system, an imaging device, and a logic device configured to communicate with the radar system and imaging device. The radar system is adapted to be mounted to a mobile structure, and the imaging device may include an imager position and/or orientation sensor (IPOS). The logic device is configured to determine a horizontal field of view (FOV) of image data captured by the imaging device and to render radar data that is visually or spatially correlated to the image data based, at least in part, on the determined horizontal FOV. Subsequent user input and/or the sonar data may be used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide visually correlated radar imagery for mobile structures. A visually correlated radar imagery system includes a radar system, an imaging device, and a logic device configured to communicate with the radar system and imaging device. The radar system is adapted to be mounted to a mobile structure, and the imaging device may include an imager position and/or orientation sensor (IPOS). The logic device is configured to determine a horizontal field of view (FOV) of image data captured by the imaging device and to render radar data that is visually or spatially correlated to the image data based, at least in part, on the determined horizontal FOV. Subsequent user input and/or the sonar data may be used to adjust a steering actuator, a propulsion system thrust, and/or other operational systems of the mobile structure.

A power supply system for a floating mobile body or an underwater mobile body moving on or under water in a water channel or a water tank is configured to supply, in a non-contact manner, power from a power transmission apparatus to a power reception apparatus. The power transmission apparatus includes an AC power source that includes a first terminal and a second terminal and outputs an AC power wave, a power transmission inductance element having one terminal connected to the first terminal, and a first power transmission electrode provided in the water channel or the water tank and having an end portion connected to another terminal of the power transmission inductance element. The power reception apparatus includes a first power reception electrode, a second power reception electrode provided apart from the first power reception electrode, and a power reception inductance element connected to the first power reception electrode.

A device for moving a watercraft comprises: —at least one propulsion chamber having a first inlet section for a liquid, referred to as the upstream edge, and a second outlet section for the liquid, referred to as the downstream edge; at least one flexible membrane housed in the chamber; and at least one actuator configured to produce thrust from the watercraft through undulation of the membrane between the upstream edge and the downstream edge.

An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to receive flows of the refrigerant between the tanks and to generate electrical power based on the flows of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes first and second hydraulic drives associated with the first and second tanks, respectively. Each hydraulic drive includes a first piston within the associated tank, a channel fluidly coupled to the associated tank and configured to contain hydraulic fluid, and a second piston within the channel and configured to move within the channel in order to vary an amount of the hydraulic fluid within the associated tank and vary a position of the first piston within the associated tank. The channel of each hydraulic drive has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the associated tank.

An apparatus includes first and second tanks each configured to receive and store a refrigerant under pressure. The apparatus also includes at least one generator configured to receive flows of the refrigerant between the tanks and to generate electrical power based on the flows of the refrigerant. The apparatus further includes first and second hydraulic drives associated with the first and second tanks, respectively. Each hydraulic drive includes a first piston within the associated tank, a channel fluidly coupled to the associated tank and configured to contain hydraulic fluid, and a second piston within the channel and configured to move within the channel in order to vary an amount of the hydraulic fluid within the associated tank and vary a position of the first piston within the associated tank. The channel of each hydraulic drive has a cross-sectional area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the associated tank.