The invention relates to a self-cleaning optical housing arrangement comprising a first cylindrical shell, a shaft, a motor, a second cylindrical shell, a cleaning pad, a shaft magnet and a cylinder magnet. The shaft magnet and the cylinder magnet are arranged in order to magnetically interact such that a rotation of the shaft causes the shaft magnet to exert a force on the cylinder magnet causing the second cylindrical shell to rotate with the shaft. The cleaning pad will upon rotation of the shaft and the second cylindrical shell, sweep across and thereby clean at least a part of an outer surface of the first cylindrical shell.

This disclosure relates generally to waste collection, storage, and retrieval from water. Aspects of this disclosure relate to submersible cleaning vehicles, filter systems, ships, communication systems, autonomous navigation, and computer systems. The submersible cleaning vehicle can navigate underwater to capture waste in filters. Abase station can support the submersible cleaning vehicle.

This disclosure relates generally to waste collection, storage, and retrieval from water. Aspects of this disclosure relate to submersible cleaning vehicles, filter systems, ships, communication systems, autonomous navigation, and computer systems. The submersible cleaning vehicle can navigate underwater to capture waste in filters. Abase station can support the submersible cleaning vehicle.

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.

A system for deploying sonar for surveying in deep water includes a submerged movable platform deployed in the deep water at a depth below a thermocline and surface wave action, a propulsion mechanism for moving the platform through the water in a controlled manner, and a multibeam echosounder attached to the platform, wherein the echosounder includes a Mills Cross transmitter and receiver array. A method for deploying sonar for surveying in deep water comprises deploying a submerged movable platform in the deep water at a depth below a thermocline and surface wave action, employing a propulsion mechanism for moving the platform through the water in a controlled manner, and employing a multibeam echosounder attached to the platform, wherein the multibeam echosounder comprises a Mills Cross transmitter and receiver array.

A system for deploying sonar for surveying in deep water includes a submerged movable platform deployed in the deep water at a depth below a thermocline and surface wave action, a propulsion mechanism for moving the platform through the water in a controlled manner, and a multibeam echosounder attached to the platform, wherein the echosounder includes a Mills Cross transmitter and receiver array. A method for deploying sonar for surveying in deep water comprises deploying a submerged movable platform in the deep water at a depth below a thermocline and surface wave action, employing a propulsion mechanism for moving the platform through the water in a controlled manner, and employing a multibeam echosounder attached to the platform, wherein the multibeam echosounder comprises a Mills Cross transmitter and receiver array.

An unmanned, autonomous, ocean-going vessel including a primary hull and a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull that freely rotates about a rotational axis. At least one of the primary hull and the rigid wing includes at least one selectively floodable compartment configured to selectively flood to submerge the primary hull and at least a portion of the rigid wing. The vessel further includes at least one controller configured to maintain a desired heading. The vessel further includes a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a force exerted by wind on the control surface element. The vessel further includes a rudder. The at least one controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder. The vessel further includes a keel coupled with the primary hull.

An unmanned, autonomous, ocean-going vessel including a primary hull and a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull that freely rotates about a rotational axis. At least one of the primary hull and the rigid wing includes at least one selectively floodable compartment configured to selectively flood to submerge the primary hull and at least a portion of the rigid wing. The vessel further includes at least one controller configured to maintain a desired heading. The vessel further includes a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a force exerted by wind on the control surface element. The vessel further includes a rudder. The at least one controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder. The vessel further includes a keel coupled with the primary hull.

Systems and methods for conveniently providing anchoring assistance onboard a watercraft are provided herein. An example system includes a display and a processor in communication with a marine system. The processor is configured to receive marine data from the marine system and/or one or more user inputs and cause the display to show one or more anchoring locations with visual indications of the anchorage quality index based on at least the marine data and/or user inputs. The one or more anchoring locations may be shown as a heat map overlaid on a map. The system may use real-time marine data, environmental data, weather data, tide data, etc. to dynamically adjust the anchoring locations and anchorage quality index. The system may enable convenient and helpful suggestions and notifications to the user when anchoring a watercraft. Some examples provide automatic deployment of an anchoring system and monitoring of a current anchoring.