An autonomous underwater vehicle including an underwater vehicle main body incorporating a power source, a buoy connected to the underwater vehicle main body through a rope, and an ejector configured to, with the underwater vehicle main body floating on a sea surface, eject the buoy from the underwater vehicle main body by compressed gas in an obliquely upward direction.

An autonomous underwater vehicle including an underwater vehicle main body incorporating a power source, a buoy connected to the underwater vehicle main body through a rope, and an ejector configured to, with the underwater vehicle main body floating on a sea surface, eject the buoy from the underwater vehicle main body by compressed gas in an obliquely upward direction.

An apparatus is disclosed having a sensor configured to measure a biological parameter of a diver and transmit a sensor signal. A controller is configured to determine that the biological parameter value correlated to the sensor signal is anomalous and responsively issue a rescue deployment signal to a buoyancy valve assembly. The buoyancy valve assembly has an inlet port connectable to a source of pressurized gas and an outlet port connectable to a buoyancy control bladder. The buoyancy valve assembly configured to receive the rescue deployment signal and responsively supply pressurized gas from the inlet port to the outlet port and buoyancy bladder, whereby the diver may ascend the water surface, even if disabled.

An apparatus is disclosed having a sensor configured to measure a biological parameter of a diver and transmit a sensor signal. A controller is configured to determine that the biological parameter value correlated to the sensor signal is anomalous and responsively issue a rescue deployment signal to a buoyancy valve assembly. The buoyancy valve assembly has an inlet port connectable to a source of pressurized gas and an outlet port connectable to a buoyancy control bladder. The buoyancy valve assembly configured to receive the rescue deployment signal and responsively supply pressurized gas from the inlet port to the outlet port and buoyancy bladder, whereby the diver may ascend the water surface, even if disabled.

Aquatic structures with adjustable buoyancy constructed in part with a vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the vent valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.

Aquatic structures with adjustable buoyancy constructed in part with a vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the vent valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.

Provided with a weight release device capable of being operated in deep sea same as the conventional weight release device without accompanying a mechanical operation at all to avoid troubles of mechanical operation occurred in the conventional weight release device. The weight release device includes a housing fixed to the underwater observation device; a thread made of thermoplastic resin; electric heater portions; a weight support plate; a locking member of the thread made of the thermoplastic resin; and a ring for hanging the weight. The thread made of the thermoplastic resin is arranged from a start point housed in the housing, arranged to pass through the first electric heater portion, locked to the locking member of the thread made of the thermoplastic resin, arranged to pass through the second electric heater portion housed in the housing, and returned to an end point housed in the housing. The ring for hanging the weight is fixed to a lower surface of the weight support plate. The weight is released only by conducting an electricity through the electric heater portion to release the weight for floating the underwater observation device.

Aquatic structures with adjustable buoyancy constructed in part with a vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the vent valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.

Aquatic structures with adjustable buoyancy constructed in part with a vent valve for a buoyancy control device suitable for divers, where the vent valve may be opened by any combination of over-pressure, manual pressure relief or a powered means, where a force to a valve plug is applied by means of a spring that is constrained to prevent entirely lateral and angular movement but in which movement of the plug in the axis of the seat is unconstrained.

A submersible buoy adapted to be attached to a submersible object via a line is disclosed with a central body having a first end and a second end axially spaced apart, the central body adapted to have the line wound therearound. A first and a second floater units are connected to the ends of the central body and have a first buoyancy and a second buoyancy being of a value relative to the first buoyancy such that a total buoyancy force exerted on the submersible buoy, at equilibrium when submerged, is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the buoy. A line release mechanism includes a line retention device operable between a closed position and a released position, retaining the line to prevent unwinding of the line, and releasing the line to allow the line to unwind, the line release mechanism being operatively linked to a controller unit controllable remotely for remote actuation of the line release mechanism.