A technique for managing an attachment between first and second portions of a device. The technique includes a retaining component having a first state in which the retaining component maintains the attachment between the first and second portions by virtue of a rigid characteristic and a second state in which the retaining component loses the rigid characteristic and no longer maintains the attachment. The retaining component transitions from the first state to the second state upon exposure to liquid water.

A technique provides a modular sensing device having multiple separable modules attached end to end. The modules are selectable based on mission requirements, with different modules and combinations thereof selected for different mission types and/or requirements.

The buoy and rope launching device comprises a launch structure, a vessel, and a buoy. The launch structure is configured for use with the vessel. The launch structure is configured for use with a buoy. The buoy further comprises a pennant. The pennant is a rope that attaches the buoy to the pot. The launch structure jettisons the buoy and the pennant from the vessel. The use of the launch structure prevents the entanglement of a crewperson in the pennant as the buoy and pennant are jettisoned.

Systems and methods are provided for aerostat deployable from sonobuoy launch container. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a capsule configured to launch from an aircraft and float in seawater with one or more sonobuoys. The capsule includes a receiver configured to receive sonobuoy data from the one or more sonobuoys, a transmitter configured to transmit the sonobuoy data to the aircraft, a cable configured to power the transmitter via a battery, and a reaction chamber including a reactant and configured to generate a gas from the seawater mixing with the reactant. The capsule also includes an aerostat tethered to the capsule via the cable and configured to inflate with the gas produced by the reaction chamber, and to ascend above the capsule with the transmitter to increase a distance for transmitting the sonobuoy data to the aircraft.

A surface buoy comprising a resident electrical power supply allows the surface buoy to be an integrated part of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed power buoy system which makes transport and installation more efficient than alternatives. The ROV deployed power system can be operational via built in radio link and kept operational during service, transport, testing, installation, and operation.

A sensor suspension system for use in an underwater environment comprises a sensor (e.g., vector sensor) and a framework comprising a plurality of support structures, and a plurality of compliant devices that suspend the sensor within an inner volume of the framework. The plurality of compliant devices facilitate a symmetrical sensing response of the sensor in three degrees of freedom when deployed in the underwater environment. The framework is moveable from a collapsed position to an expanded position. A plurality of sensor suspension systems can be tethered together into a sensor array by a deployment control system operable to release a buoyant device, tethered to the sensor suspension systems, that vertically positions the plurality of sensor suspension systems into the sensor array. The buoyant device can cause each framework to expand via pulling force through the tethers upon release of the buoyant device.

An underwater device intended to be deployed in the water, the device includes a set of arms articulated to a support body having a reference axis r, the arms being able to be kept in a furled configuration and able to deploy into a deployed configuration wherein the arms extend about the reference axis r, the arms deploying by distal ends of the arms moving away from the axis r, a set of at least one bending spring stressed elastically in bending when the arms are kept in a furled configuration and able to relax when the arms are released from the furled configuration, the set of at least one bending spring being configured and arranged in such a way as to exert, on at least one of the arms, when the arms are released from the furled configuration, a thrust that instigates the deploying of the arms.

The present invention discloses a system for measuring the mechanical properties of sea floor sediments at full ocean depth. The system includes an overwater monitoring unit and an underwater measurement device, where the underwater measurement device includes an observation platform and a measuring mechanism; the observation platform includes a frame-type body and a floating body, a wing panel, a floating ball cabin, a leveling mechanism, a counterweight, and a release mechanism mounted on the frame-type body; the floating ball cabin seals a circuit system; the leveling mechanism adjusts the underwater measurement device horizontally on the sea floor when the frame-type body reaches the sea floor; the release mechanism discards the counterweight for recovery of the unit after the underwater measurement device completes the underwater operation; the measuring mechanism includes at least one of a cone penetration measuring mechanism, a spherical penetration measuring mechanism, and a vane shear measuring mechanism, or a sampling mechanism.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a modular buoy deployment system including modules arranged to be assembled at a destination location and an aerial delivery apparatus arranged to deliver the buoy modules to the destination location. The modules are connectable to at least one other module and form a buoy when assembled. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a platform arranged to receive one or more aerial delivery apparatuses. Each module conforms to a delivery criteria of the aerial delivery apparatus. The module buoy deployment system also optionally includes a power system arranged to recharge the aerial delivery apparatus.

An underwater drone is disclosed. The underwater drone includes a horizontal propeller module and a vertical propeller module to respectively provide a drone body with a horizontal proceeding force and a vertical lifting or diving force. The underwater drone includes a horizontal channel and a vertical channel, which allow the water to pass through for reducing resistance when the underwater drone moves forwards, upwards or downwards. The underwater drone is equipped with a buoy member with an antenna portion of a communication module disposed therein. The underwater drone is equipped with the fishing device, the fish finding device and the image capturing module. Therefore, the underwater drone is capable of fishing, rapidly moving and wireless remote control.