Methods and apparatus are provided for deploying an unmanned marine vehicle into water, in which the unmanned marine vehicle includes a float and a glider connected by a tether. The apparatus includes a buoyant frame having a first frame arm, and a second frame arm spaced from the first frame arm to define a receiving bay between the first frame arm and the second frame arm, wherein the receiving bay is sized to receive the float. A glider retainer assembly is coupled to the buoyant frame and configured to releasably retain the glider. The apparatus further includes a payload deployment assembly having an attachment plate coupled to and positioned below the buoyant frame, and a payload compartment releasably coupled to the attachment plate by a payload release, wherein the payload compartment defines a receptacle sized to receive a payload coupled to the glider, and the payload compartment has a density greater than water.

A docking device includes a docking station capable of being connected to a carrying vessel by means of a cable, the docking station comprising a guide device which comprises a set of arms which are connected to the body and each comprise a distal end and a proximal end, the set of arms being capable of being in a deployed configuration wherein it defines a space flaring towards the rear so as to enable the underwater vehicle to be guided to the stop, the distal end of each arm being located behind the proximal end of the arm in the deployed configuration, the set of arms being capable of being in a collapsed configuration wherein a distal end of each arm of the set of arms is closer to the longitudinal axis than in the deployed configuration and wherein the distal end is located in front of the position occupied by the distal end in the deployed configuration, such that a length, along the axis x, of a space defined by the set of arms behind the stop is smaller in the collapsed configuration than in the deployed configuration

The present invention provides a capturing mechanism and method for the recovery of at least one vessel to at least one marine platform; the at least one vessel having at least one engagement device either permanently or at least partially reversibly connectable to the same; the capturing mechanism including: a. at least one tensioned capturing line connected to the at least one marine platform; and b, at least one line maneuvering mechanism configured to displace the at least one tensioned capturing line in at least one direction selected from a group of up, down, left, right, forward, backward, playable into the at least one marine plat form, playable out of the at least one marine platform, playable into and out of the water and any combination thereof.

A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The main body of the vehicle is a spherical body.

A recovery device for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) includes a first recovery component arranged on an unmanned ship and a second recovery component arranged on the UUV. Two magnets are provided on an end of the first recovery component and an end of the second recovery component which are opposite to each other, respectively. A first cable of the unmanned ship is provided on an end of the first recovery component away from the magnet, and a second cable is provided on an end of the second recovery component away from the magnet. A thruster is provided on a side of the first recovery component. The UUV is recovered using the unmanned ship through the recovery components connected to the cables, which allows the locating and navigation errors to a large extent.

A guided lifting system, including: a lifting unit, installable on a loading deck and configured to exert a lifting force that has at least one vertically directed component; a pick-up module, associated with the lifting unit and configured to hook a vehicle to be lifted; characterised in that: it includes a guide device, connected to the pick-up module and configured to move the pick-up module in space in a guided manner; the guide device can be actuated and controlled autonomously from the lifting unit.

The invention relates to methods of putting a boat in the water and removing the boat from the water and to a boat launch and recovery platform (1) comprising a frame (10) for receiving a boat (2), flotation means (20) fixed to the frame (10), and a floating floor (30) coupled to the frame (10) so as to be vertically translatable. The launch and recovery platform (1) is arranged for, and the methods enable, a transition from a configuration in which the floating floor (30) rests on a support floor (11) when the launch and recovery platform (1) is out of the water, to a configuration in which the floating floor (30) floats on the surface (S1) of the water when the launch and recovery platform (1) is afloat.

A launch and recovery apparatus is for a surface vessel, a surface vessel is for use on water, and related methods are for launching or recovering an underwater unit. The unmanned surface vessel may have a ramp member for providing a ramp structure under the water for facilitating launch or recovery of the underwater unit, the ramp structure having an incline for the underwater unit and an aperture or gap penetrating through the ramp structure for communicating a flow of water in the aperture or gap relative to the vessel. The surface vessel is advanced across the water, obtaining a flow of water relative to the vessel in the aperture or gap through the underwater ramp structure, the underwater unit is supported on the incline of the ramp structure, and the underwater unit is moved up or down the incline to facilitate the launch or recovery of the underwater unit.

An underwater vehicle includes a hull extending along a main longitudinal axis and at least one first pincer member disposed towards a forward end of the hull, characterized in that it further includes a second pincer member disposed towards an aft end of the hull, which is an opposite end to the forward end, the first and second pincer members being disposed respectively on a first lateral part and a second lateral part of the hull, on opposite sides of the main longitudinal axis, and being configured to take an open position or a closed position, and a detection member and a guide member which are respectively configured to detect cables and in order for the first and second pincer members to come respectively into engagement with one of the respective cables.

The present invention provides a capturing mechanism and method for the recovery of at least one vessel to at least one marine platform; the at least one vessel having at least one engagement device either permanently or at least partially reversibly connectable to the same; the capturing mechanism including: a. at least one tensioned capturing line connected to the at least one marine platform; and b, at least one line maneuvering mechanism configured to displace the at least one tensioned capturing line in at least one direction selected from a group of up, down, left, right, forward, backward, playable into the at least one marine plat form, playable out of the at least one marine platform, playable into and out of the water and any combination thereof.