Devices and methods for recovering an unmanned underwater vehicle. The device includes a gantry mounted on a recovery vehicle, a frame, and a shaft extending between the gantry and the frame and configured to vertically move the frame relative to the gantry. Attached to the frame are a plurality of rotatable arms movable between an opened position and a closed position. A first end of each arm is attached to the frame at a pivot. A flexible strap extends between each of the second ends of the arm and the frame. As the arms are moved to the closed position around the unmanned underwater vehicle, the straps will support the unmanned underwater vehicle.

A weaponized UUV has a sliding barrel and accessible breech. The barrel slides in response to the firing of a projectile, and moves a first distance un-arrested, providing time for the projectile to clear the barrel. After the projectile clears the barrel, a recoil mechanism engages the barrel, transferring the recoil load to the hull of the UUV.

A task such as inspection is performed at a subsea location by positioning a functional unit such as an unmanned underwater vehicle to perform the task. When positioned to perform the task, the unit is then in a shadow region where wireless control signals from a subsea control transmitter are obscured by a subsea obstacle. Consequently, control signals are transmitted wirelessly through water from the control transmitter to an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) positioned outside the shadow region and are relayed from the AUV to the unit to control the unit to perform the task. The unit can be tethered to the AUV or can communicate with the AUV wirelessly. The AUV can move itself to improve wireless communication with the subsea control transmitter and optionally also with the unit.

Systems and methods for securing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to a subsea structure during cleaning, maintenance, or inspection of the structure surface are provided. In one or more embodiments, an attachment mechanism includes a pair of grasping hooks that are raised and lowered when driven by a motorized drive. In one or more embodiments, an attachment mechanism includes a rigid holder having a mechanical stop and connected to a swing arm, the swing arm configured to rotate inward, but not outward beyond the mechanical stop. In one or more embodiments, an attachment mechanism includes a plurality of linked segments in series, each connected at a plurality of pivot points. A pair of wires passes through the plurality of linked segments and connects to a pair of pulleys that extend or retract the wires, thereby rotating the plurality of linked segments.

An air, sea and underwater tilt tri-rotor UAV capable of performing vertical take-off and landing. By the method for controlling a submerged floating device and a tilt tri-rotor device, the UAV is switched among the vertical take-off and landing mode, fixed wing mode, water surface sailing mode and underwater submerging mode.

A heave survey platform includes: a body, two fixed wings and two variable wing mechanisms. The two fixed wings are symmetrically disposed on two sides of a middle part of the body, and an axis of the body is located in a plane defined by extension directions of the two fixed wings. Each variable wing mechanism includes a variable wing, and the two variable wings of the two variable wing mechanisms are symmetrically disposed on two sides of a lower end of the body, and each variable wing is configured to swing between a first position coplanar with the plane and a second position forming an angle with the plane to generate a lift force on the body at the second position, thereby to make the body move in a radial direction or change attitude.

The invention relates to a method for determining a water current velocity profile in a water column by registration of a deviation between a first position and a second position of an underwater vehicle travelling in the water column. A batch of underwater vehicles is deployed from a surface vessel into the water. The vehicle(s) steers to the first position, which for the first batch is a predefined estimated position (PEP). The vehicle is by first means recording the second position, which is the actual position (AP). The difference ΔP between the predefined estimated position PEP and the actual position is registered and based on the difference a deviation data set is calculated. An updated current profile or stack of horizontal water current velocities UV is determined.

The present disclosure relates to a nose arrangement (100) for an underwater vehicle (10). The nose arrangement comprises a first separation section (110) comprising a first inflatable structure (113) and a second inflatable structure (114) arranged within the first inflatable structure (113). The first separation section (110) is arranged store the first inflatable structure (113) and the second inflatable structure (114) in a first state, and to inflate the first inflatable structure (113) and the second inflatable structure (114) in a second state. The first inflatable structure (113) is arranged to protrude along the longitudinal axis of the nose arrangement and underwater vehicle in the second state. The disclosure also relates to a method for deploying a nose arrangement (100) of an underwater vehicle.

An inspection crawler, and systems and methods for inspecting underwater pipelines are provided. The system includes the inspection crawler having a housing with a first side, an opposing second side, a power source, and a controller. The crawler includes an inspection tool, at least two pairs of latching arms, each latching arm including a rolling element, and at least two pairs of driving wheels. The system also includes at least one communication unit configured to communicate with the inspection crawler and to communicate aerially with one or more remote devices and, and at one sea surface unit. The inspection crawler can further include a connecting structure connecting the front and back portions of the crawler, and configured to elongate and shorten the inspection crawler.

A bionic underwater robot for achieving a variety of motions is disclosed. The bionic underwater robot includes a head and one or more tail structures. Each of the one or more tail structures includes one or more joint structures. Each of the one or more joint structures includes a connection plate, and a modular assembly, comprising an upper servo motor, a lower servo motor, and a bevel gear mechanism, is motorized for performing various movement motions of the joint structure. The bevel gear mechanism is integrally formed by an intermediate bevel gear, a first bevel gear, and a second bevel gear. The upper servo motor drives the first bevel gear from a first side of the modular assembly, while the lower servo motor drives the second bevel gear from a second side.