A method for deploying a payload into a body of water using a deployment vessel, the deployment vessel including a hull defining a payload compartment, the method including positioning the payload in the payload compartment of the deployment vessel, the deployment vessel and the payload having a buoyancy, wherein the buoyancy is initially negative, deploying the deployment vessel into the water at a drop zone, wherein the deployment vessel moves horizontally through the water as it submerges vertically downward under a force of gravity, changing the buoyancy to positive after a minimum horizontal distance is established between the drop zone and the deployment vessel, thereby causing the deployment vessel to surface and, after the surfacing of the deployment vessel, opening the hull to release the payload therefrom.

The present disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for a compact, low-cost drift buoy for use in a variety of applications. An example includes a drift buoy including a body defining a payload cavity; a float; and a controller, where the controller is configured to cause the drift buoy to release a payload when one or more predetermined conditions are satisfied. According to some embodiments, the controller is configured to establish a location of the drift buoy. According to certain embodiments, the one or more predetermined conditions include a location condition, where in response to the location of the drift buoy being within a target location, the controller causes the drift buoy to release the payload from the payload cavity.

An ocean floating drifter, which can be very quickly assembled at low cost in urgent situation, can accurately trace ocean surface currents with help of global positioning device to transmit periodically data and position information to satellites. The drifter includes a cylinder shape made of materials which can protect the electronic GPS tracker device in it. A conical shape at lower end is used to lower the impact during air drop. The weight amount at the bottom can be pre-adjusted to simulate different the wind effect during the drifting. The drifter can be kept relatively stable position during its drifting to let its GPS device reliably communicate with satellites. The drifter has special provisions to sustain impact during air drop, resist corrosion, fish-bite damage and biological fouling.

A device (10) for detecting a signal of interest in order to locate an underwater source of the signal. The device includes a receiver (13) configured to detect the signal of interest, an actuator (14) configured to allow at least a portion of the detection device (10) to move towards a zone indicating a result of detection of the signal of interest in response to the receiver being operated, and an emitter (15) configured to indicate the result of detection of the signal of interest.

The present invention involves a system for the release of low relief, self-orienting deployable payloads from a platform such as an underwater vehicle and a mechanism of passive buoyancy compensation of the vehicle. The system secures one or more payloads by a vacuum force without an additional mechanical restraining mechanism and deployment of a payload is accomplished by disengaging the vacuum hold to release the payload for its intended function. Once deployed, the payload may reorient itself to a functional orientation without additional assistance.

The present invention is directed toward an adapter for launching smaller sized sonobuoys from a standard size sonobuoy launching container. The adapters enable two smaller sized sonobuoys to be disposed within the standard size sonobuoy launching container in series. The adapter includes a diverter mechanism that is configured to launch a first smaller sized sonobuoy when the sonobuoy launching container receives a first burst of air, and launch a second smaller sized sonobuoy when the sonobuoy launching container receives a subsequent second burst of air.

The present invention is directed toward an adapter for launching smaller sized sonobuoys from a standard size sonobuoy launching container. The adapters enable two smaller sized sonobuoys to be disposed within the standard size sonobuoy launching container in series. The adapter includes a diverter mechanism that is configured to launch a first smaller sized sonobuoy when the sonobuoy launching container receives a first burst of air, and launch a second smaller sized sonobuoy when the sonobuoy launching container receives a subsequent second burst of air.

The present invention is directed toward an adapter for launching miniature sonobuoys from a standard sized sonobuoy launching container. The adapter includes a first cylindrical member, a second cylindrical member, and a diverter member, and is disposed within the container. The first member includes a central passage that retains a first miniature sonobuoy. The second member includes a central passage retains a second miniature sonobuoy. The second member further includes at least one channel that extends through the sidewall of the second member. The diverter member is in fluid communication with the at least one channel and the central passage of the second member. The diverter is configured to divert a first burst of air along the at least one channel to launch the first miniature sonobuoy and divert a second burst of air along the central passage of the second cylindrical member to launch the second miniature sonobuoy.

A projectile launcher includes: a storage and launching tube suitable for receiving a projectile; a breech sealing one end of the tube; a thruster arranged in the tube between the breech and the projectile, comprising a pressurized gas reserve and suitable for applying an ejection force to a projectile; a plug blocking the other end of the tube, having a locked configuration, in which the plug engages the internal wall of the tube so as to close the tube and to keep the projectile in the tube, and an unlocked configuration, in which the plug is free relative to the tube; and a trigger having a retracted resting configuration and a deployed configuration, suitable for triggering, causing the plug to pass from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration; wherein the trigger is pneumatic and is supplied with pressure by the reserve.

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.