In a water buoy, a power system generates electrical energy from water kinetics and transfers the electrical energy to a sensor array, processing circuitry, and communication interface. In the water buoy, the sensor array detects buoy locations, water velocities, water velocity directions, and wind speeds. In the water buoy, the processing circuitry aggregates the detected buoy locations, the detected water velocities, the detected water velocity directions, and the detected wind speeds into data messages. In the water buoy, the communication interface wirelessly transfers the data messages for delivery to a computer system.

A water buoy data system transfers a water current warning. Water buoys sense wind characteristics and water characteristics at a location. The water buoys determine wave characteristics at the location based on the wind characteristics and water characteristics at the location. The water buoys wirelessly transfer data messages that indicate the wave characteristics at the location for delivery to a computer system. The computer system receives the data messages wirelessly transferred by the water buoys that indicate the wave characteristics at the location. The computer system generates and transfers the water current warning for the location based on the wave characteristics at the location.

Devices, systems and methods for real-time wave monitoring are described. One example system for real-time monitoring of wave conditions includes a plurality of buoys, wherein each of the plurality of buoys comprises a sensor array configured to continuously monitor one or more characteristics of the wave conditions, a transceiver configured to transmit, to a remote server, information corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the wave conditions over a wireless communication channel, and a tether that physically couples the buoy to an anchor, wherein the information from each of the plurality of buoys is combined with a user preference to provide a user with a message regarding the wave conditions in response to a user request, and wherein a duration between the user request and transmission of the information from each of the plurality of buoys is less than a predetermined value.

Devices and methods are provided for harvesting kinetic energy. The devices can include a plurality of dielectric elastomeric membranes, a rigid connector rod, and a mountable support base. Membrane layers have a funnel-shape with a narrow opening portion and a wide perimeter portion. Membrane layers are adjacent to other membrane layers having an opposite orientation defined by the narrow opening portion and the wide perimeter portion. The narrow opening portions are coupled to a first end portion of the connector rod. The wide perimeter portions are fixed in relation to the support base. Application of linear force at a second end portion of the connector rod in a first direction causes at least a first membrane layer to stretch. Application of the force in a second direction opposite to the first direction causes at least a second membrane layer adjacent to the first membrane layer to stretch.

Devices, systems and methods for real-time wave monitoring are described. One example method for real-time monitoring of wave conditions includes receiving, from a buoy over a first wireless communication channel, information based on continuously monitoring one or more characteristics of the wave conditions, receiving, from a user device over a second wireless communication channel, user preferences, and transmitting, to the user device over the second wireless communication channel, a message based on the information and the user preferences in response to a user request. Another example method includes transmitting, to a remote server, user preferences and a user request, and receiving, from the remote server and in response to the user request, a message based on the user preferences and information corresponding to the wave conditions. In these methods, the time duration between communication of the user request and the information acquisition may be less than a predetermined value.

Disclosed is a ship equipped with a propulsion system using wave force, the ship including: a hull; a tube fixed to the hull to be at least partially submerged in water and having a variable volume; a restorer including weights disposed on a bottom in the tube and elastic members pushing down the bottom of the tube to apply restoring force to the tube so that the volume of the tube is restored; an air discharge unit including an air discharge pipe connected to the tube with an end exposed in water and a first valve disposed on the air discharge pipe to open and close the air discharge pipe; and an air suction unit including an air suction pipe connected to the tube with an end exposed to the atmosphere and a second valve disposed on the air suction pipe to open and close the air suction pipe.

The present disclosure provides a small, inexpensive, long-lived underwater beacon locator. The beacon locator can illustratively include a housing, a communications link, a processor, a plurality of hydrophones and a motion generator.

The present disclosure provides a small, inexpensive, long-lived underwater beacon locator. The beacon locator can illustratively include a housing, a communications link, a processor, a plurality of hydrophones and a motion generator.

Disclosed is a ship equipped with a propulsion system using wave force, the ship including: a hull; a tube fixed to the hull to be at least partially submerged in water and having a variable volume; a restorer including weights disposed on a bottom in the tube and elastic members pushing down the bottom of the tube to apply restoring force to the tube so that the volume of the tube is restored; an air discharge unit including an air discharge pipe connected to the tube with an end exposed in water and a first valve disposed on the air discharge pipe to open and close the air discharge pipe; and an air suction unit including an air suction pipe connected to the tube with an end exposed to the atmosphere and a second valve disposed on the air suction pipe to open and close the air suction pipe.

Systems for real-time wave monitoring, which provide real-time updates of wave conditions to users who wish to access the beach for leisure or sporting activities, are described. One example system includes a plurality of buoys and a transceiver. Each of the plurality of buoys includes a sensor array configured to continuously monitor one or more characteristics of the wave conditions, and the transceiver is configured to transmit, to a remote server, information corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the wave conditions over a wireless communication channel. The information from each of the plurality of buoys is combined with a user preference to provide a user with a message regarding the wave conditions in response to a user request, and a duration between the user request and transmission of the information from each of the plurality of buoys is less than a predetermined value.