An air-based-deployment-compatible underwater vehicle that may be configured to perform vertical profiling is described. The vehicle may be configured, during information transmission, to perform motion stabilization at a water surface. A body of the vehicle may have a cylindrical shape. Buoyancy control components of the vehicle may be disposed within the body. The buoyancy control components may be configured to adjust a volume and/or buoyancy of the vehicle to facilitate vertical profiling. Fins may be hingedly disposed on the body at one or more locations on the vehicle. The fins may be movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The fins, in the first configuration, may be positioned substantially flat against the body. The fins, in the second configuration, may extend radially outward to slow descent and to provide motion stabilization. The fins may be pitched to rotate the vehicle about a longitudinal axis during vertical profiling.

Systems and methods for aerially delivering cargo into a body of water while avoiding parachute entrapment and entanglement are described. The system includes a parachute having a canopy and suspension lines. The system further includes a weight coupled to a first end of the suspension lines and a ring that is configured to float in the body of water. The weight is coupled to the cargo, and the ring is disposed between the weight and the canopy with the suspension lines passing through the center of the ring.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a marker-buoy deployment system having a launching module that becomes armed by inserting a marker buoy, then laterally launches a loaded marker buoy in response to a user command. In an illustrative embodiment, launching module may be spring operated. In some embodiments, the release device may be foot operated. In an exemplary embodiment, a safety device may prevent an accidental launch, for example, from a trailered boat. In some embodiments, a visual indicator may indicate whether the safety is on, or the buoy has been loaded or launched. In some embodiments, a deployed-buoy location system may record the location coordinates of one or more deployed marker buoys. In an exemplary embodiment, marker buoys may be loaded automatically from a magazine each time a marker buoy is deployed. In some embodiments, marker-buoys may advantageously be deployed by a boater whose hands are otherwise occupied.

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.

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.

An air deployable drifter buoy assembly is provided. The air deployable drifter buoy assembly includes an air deployment tube in compliance with NATO A-Size packaging specifications and a foldable drifter buoy. In a first mode of operation the foldable drifter buoy is accommodated in the air deployment tube in a folded manner and in a second mode of operation the foldable drifter buoy is deployed in an unfolded manner with the foldable drifter buoy being in compliance with Davis CODE Drifter specifications.

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.

An air-based-deployment-compatible underwater vehicle that may be configured to perform vertical profiling is described. The vehicle may be configured, during information transmission, to perform motion stabilization at a water surface. A body of the vehicle may have a cylindrical shape. Buoyancy control components of the vehicle may be disposed within the body. The buoyancy control components may be configured to adjust a volume and/or buoyancy of the vehicle to facilitate vertical profiling. Fins may be hingedly disposed on the body at one or more locations on the vehicle. The fins may be movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The fins, in the first configuration, may be positioned substantially flat against the body. The fins, in the second configuration, may extend radially outward to slow descent and to provide motion stabilization. The fins may be pitched to rotate the vehicle about a longitudinal axis during vertical profiling.

An air deployable drifter buoy assembly is provided. The air deployable drifter buoy assembly includes an air deployment tube in compliance with NATO A-Size packaging specifications and a foldable drifter buoy. In a first mode of operation the foldable drifter buoy is accommodated in the air deployment tube in a folded manner and in a second mode of operation the foldable drifter buoy is deployed in an unfolded manner with the foldable drifter buoy being in compliance with Davis CODE Drifter specifications.

This invention relates to a parachute sea anchor system deployable from a payload tube. There is provided a parachute sea anchor system suitable for launch from a vessel comprising at least one payload tube, said payload tube, comprising a payload canister, which comprises a parachute sea anchor, wherein said parachute sea anchor comprises a buoy tethered thereto, wherein said payload canister is attached to said vessel.