A laser-powered ice-penetrating communications payload delivery vehicle for sub-ice submarine missions enables under-ice operations to exchange information with terrestrial facilities or satellite networks with communications methods otherwise blocked by an ice cap. The vehicle comprises an electronics bay, a payload bay, optics bay, and a melt optic with laser. The system and method of establishing communication where the vehicle, tethered to a sub-ice vessel, is released. The vehicle ascends to the bottom of an ice sheet and uses a laser to melt the ice, forming a borehole through which the vehicle continues to ascend. When buoyancy no longer advances the vehicle beyond sea level, the vehicle continues to melt a conical opening through the ice until unobstructed atmosphere is reached and bi-directional communication is established. Where the melting capacity cannot reach ice to continue melting, the vehicle mechanically advances itself toward the surface to establish high bandwidth, bi-directional communication.

In one embodiment, an imaging system includes a laser operable to diverge laser light to a surface. An imaging element is configured in a bistatic arrangement with respect to the laser and is operable to image laser light returns from the surface. A detector is in optical communication with the imaging element to generate one or more digital images of the laser light returns. And, a processor generates mapping data of the surface from the one or more digital images.

In one embodiment, an imaging system includes a laser operable to diverge laser light to a surface. An imaging element is configured in a bistatic arrangement with respect to the laser and is operable to image laser light returns from the surface. A detector is in optical communication with the imaging element to generate one or more digital images of the laser light returns. And, a processor generates mapping data of the surface from the one or more digital images.

The single-jointed underwater robot fish includes a casing, a main board cabin, a motion control cabin and a battery cabin. The outer contour of the casing is a bionic fish shape, one end is a front casing, and the other end is a bionic fishtail structure. The front end of the main board cabin is affixed to the inner side of the front casing, a lens group, an eccentric anti-shake mechanism and a main PCB (printed circuit board) are set in the main board cabin. The motion control cabin is connected to the rear end of the main board cabin. A triaxial linkage device and a transmission device are set in the motion control cabin. The battery cabin is located below the motion control cabin.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a navigation system which, on the one hand, is arranged on sides of the underwater vehicle/AUV and, on the other hand, includes a surface transmitter as a counterpart. The two units communicate with each other such that the surface transmitter emits its signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle and/or that the surface transmitter follows the underwater vehicle to improve the position determination capability.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a navigation system which, on the one hand, is arranged on sides of the underwater vehicle/AUV and, on the other hand, includes a surface transmitter as a counterpart. The two units communicate with each other such that the surface transmitter emits its signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle and/or that the surface transmitter follows the underwater vehicle to improve the position determination capability.

In a first aspect, embodiments described herein relate to a submersible robot system for inspecting and/or grooming objects (e.g., naval vessels) in a marine environment. In some embodiments, the robot system includes a housing; a plurality of adhesion engines disposed within the housing; an illumination device; and an imaging device. In some applications, each adhesion engine includes a plurality of adhesion devices structured and arranged to secure the system to the object; a magnetic switch motor for switching on and off the adhesion devices; at least one grooming element; and a body rotation motor for moving the grooming element across a surface of the object.

In a first aspect, embodiments described herein relate to a submersible robot system for inspecting and/or grooming objects (e.g., naval vessels) in a marine environment. In some embodiments, the robot system includes a housing; a plurality of adhesion engines disposed within the housing; an illumination device; and an imaging device. In some applications, each adhesion engine includes a plurality of adhesion devices structured and arranged to secure the system to the object; a magnetic switch motor for switching on and off the adhesion devices; at least one grooming element; and a body rotation motor for moving the grooming element across a surface of the object.

The present disclosure relates to sea floor mapping, and more particularly to a method, system, and apparatus for mapping a large swath of sea floor at substantial depths. An example autonomous underwater vehicle may include: a controller; a body having a front end and a rear end and defining a cavity and a center of gravity; a first dive plane extending from the body proximate the center of gravity; a second dive plane extending from the body substantially opposite of the first dive plane proximate the center of gravity; a counterweight disposed within the cavity configured to be moved between the front end and the rear end of the body, wherein a fore-aft pitch of the body of the autonomous underwater vehicle is controlled by the controller through movement of the counterweight toward the front end or the rear end of the body.

An approach system for an autonomous underwater vehicle approaching an underwater facility includes: an underwater facility located in water and including a light emitter configured to radially emit light; and an autonomous underwater vehicle including an underwater vehicle main body and a light receiving array provided at the underwater vehicle main body and including a plurality of light receiving elements that are independent from one another.