Systems, methods, and apparatuses are described herein for providing electrical power to a marine vehicle. In some aspects, a marine vehicle includes a power system arranged to receive and store electrical power delivered from a solar panel assembly. The power system may include one or more batteries. The vehicle also includes a processor arranged to determine an extension time and an retraction time for a solar panel assembly and a controller that, in response to instructions from the processor, is arranged to extend the solar panel assembly and retract the solar panel assembly. The solar panel assembly is arranged to be configured in at least one of an extended position and a retracted position. The solar panel assembly includes one or more solar panels where the solar panel assembly is in electrical communication with the power system.

A system for collection of rainwater in the open ocean may include: (a) one or more ocean-going vessels, wherein each ocean-going vessel is configured for collection and storage of rainwater, wherein each ocean-going vessel is configured to drift with surface ocean currents in order to navigate to one or more delivery locations, wherein each delivery location is on or near to a land mass; and (b) one or more delivery stations located at the one or more delivery locations, wherein each delivery station is configured to receive stored rainwater from one or more of the ocean-going vessels.

The present invention discloses an integrated automated driving system for a maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS). The integrated automated driving system for a MASS includes a perception module for perceiving navigational environment of a MASS and obtaining real-time dynamic information of a navigation channel, hydrology, a state of the MASS and traffic environment; a communication system for transmitting data and instructions between the MASS and a shore base as well as between system modules; a data processing module for processing information obtained by the perception module; a decision-making module for identifying a current operating status of the MASS and environment according to data outputted by the data processing module, selecting actions to be taken, and generating operating instructions corresponding to the action; and an execution module for receiving operating instructions sent from the decision-making module and controlling a propeller and a rudder of the MASS through a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller.

Techniques are provided for an unmanned surface vehicle including a vehicle body and a rigid square-rig wing coupled with the primary vehicle body. The rigid square-rig wing includes a first surface configured to interact with wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of drag, and a second surface configured to interact with the wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of lift. The unmanned surface vehicle further includes a rudder and a control system comprising a controller, the control system configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder to the rudder position.

Disclosed are a dynamic route planning method and device for unmanned ship used for feeding. The method includes: acquiring positioning information of a first set of vertices in a water body region, a feeding distance of a feeding device and positioning information of an unmanned ship; establishing a regional model according to the positioning information of the first set of vertices, and obtaining a route planning point according to the regional model and the feeding distance of the feeding device; obtaining a route target point according to the positioning information of the first set of vertices and the route planning point; dividing the route target point into an unreached target point or a reached target point according to the positioning information of the unmanned ship and the route target point; and obtaining a cruise route according to the positioning information of the unmanned ship and the unreached target point.

An offshore facility evacuation system that includes a submerged-floating pod (SFP) unit adapted to be positioned in a body of water adjacent an offshore facility, and a SFP station of the offshore facility adapted to launch the SFP unit from the facility. The SFP unit including a SFP controller, an SFP escape line to extend between the SFP station and the SFP unit to provide a path for moving persons from the SFP station to the SFP unit while the SFP unit is floating in the body of water, a SFP landing base including an inflatable platform to provide a landing area for persons, a SFP depth control system to regulate submergence of the SFP unit, a SFP location control system to control a location of the SFP unit, and a SFP communication system to provide communication with the SFP unit, and personal evacuation devices (PEDs).

A propulsion rudder for use with a water vessel, preferably an unmanned surface water vessel. The propulsion rudder includes a rotating base, a rudder assembly, and a thrust assembly. In one embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise two vertical mast rudders connected by an upper horizontal wing, with the thrust assembly mounted on the horizontal wing. In a second embodiment, the rudder assembly may comprise an annular airfoil with the thrust assembly mounted on a mast and positioned in the center of the annular airfoil. The thrust assembly may be a propeller, a turbine, a ramjet, or a rocket.

Unmanned vehicles can be terrestrial, aerial, nautical, or multi-mode. Unmanned vehicles may efficiently accomplish tasks by autonomously charging or replacing its power source.

Autonomously piloting a sea-faring vessel traveling on a pre-defined course at a nominal speed includes: measuring a slamming parameter of the vessel; determining that the slamming parameter is outside an acceptable range; and autonomously decreasing the speed of the vessel until the slamming parameter is within the acceptable range, thereby causing the vessel to enter a reduced-speed mode.

A system for supplying power to an unmanned vehicle, which may be from a dynamically controlled remote power source. A power provider may wirelessly supply power to substantially hemispherical power acceptors or substantially spherical power acceptors. Power may be wirelessly supplied using beams of electromagnetic radiation, such as microwaves or laser beams.