Underwater Deployable Structures (UDSs) capable of achieving inflation via mechanical pumps, moisture-activated expanding foams, water swelling material, or a hybrid of a mechanical pump and water swelling material. Moisture expanding foams begin as polyurethane-based resins of low viscosity, and react in the presence of water to become solid foam. In their final forms, the foams exist as open- or closed-cell, and vary in strength, elasticity, and rigidity. Water swelling material is also disclosed wherein the water swelling material is capable of achieving expansion numerous (e.g., up to about 250) times its initial volume when in contact with water and can shrink back to its initial volume upon dehydration, making the UDSs reusable. A mechanical pump may optionally be used to assist in initial inflation until the water swelling material reaches full expansion.

A system for autonomous ocean data collection includes at least one sensor capable of collecting sensor data, at least one transmission device, and at least one computing device comprising one or more hardware processors and memory coupled to the one or more hardware processors, the memory storing one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, cause the at least one computing device to generate data for transmission based on the sensor data collected by the at least one sensor, and cause the at least one transmission device to transmit the data.

A system for autonomous ocean data collection includes at least one sensor capable of collecting sensor data, at least one transmission device, and at least one computing device comprising one or more hardware processors and memory coupled to the one or more hardware processors, the memory storing one or more instructions which, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, cause the at least one computing device to generate data for transmission based on the sensor data collected by the at least one sensor, and cause the at least one transmission device to transmit the data.

The present invention involves a system for the release of low relief, self-orienting deployable payloads from a platform such as a submersible vehicle and a mechanism of passive buoyancy compensation of the vehicle. The system secures one or more payloads by a vacuum force without an additional mechanical restraining mechanism and deployment of a payload is accomplished by disengaging the vacuum hold to release the payload for its intended function. Once deployed, the payload may reorient itself to a functional orientation without additional assistance.

The present invention involves a system for the release of low relief, self-orienting deployable payloads from a platform such as a submersible vehicle and a mechanism of passive buoyancy compensation of the vehicle. The system secures one or more payloads by a vacuum force without an additional mechanical restraining mechanism and deployment of a payload is accomplished by disengaging the vacuum hold to release the payload for its intended function. Once deployed, the payload may reorient itself to a functional orientation without additional assistance.

A desalination system that is deployable in a body of water having a surface and a seafloor and which includes a vessel structure that is capable of travel in water, a reverse osmosis system disposed within an internal space of the vessel structure and a tank connected to the reverse osmosis system, the tank configured to receive filtered water from the reverse osmosis system. A positioning system is provided for controlling the travel of the vessel structure, and a ballast system is configured to control the buoyancy of the vessel structure. A controller is operably associated with the positioning system and the ballast system to control the position of the vessel below the surface of the body of water.

An underwater sound source includes a cylindrical body having a front body portion, a rear body portion, a cylindrical piezo-ceramic ring transducer disposed therebetween, a flexible sleeve configured to cover an outer surface of the cylindrical piezo ceramic ring transducer, and a resonant pipe mounted to the cylindrical body and surrounding the cylindrical piezo-ceramic ring transducer. The resonant pipe is disposed around the cylindrical piezo-ceramic ring transducer, forming a gap between an inner surface of the resonant pipe and the outer surface of the cylindrical piezo-ceramic ring transducer.

A waterborne vessel includes a hull structure, longitudinal and transverse drive tunnels, and one or more thrusters. The hull structure has a base and side walls forming a U-shaped cross-section, open forward and aft ends, and an open top. The drive tunnels extend through the base portion of the hull structure. Each thruster is located at a corresponding intersection of longitudinal and transverse drive tunnels. Each thruster drives water flow through the corresponding drive tunnels and is rotatable about a vertical axis among multiple different thruster orientations in which the thruster drives water flow in one direction or the other through the corresponding longitudinal or transverse drive tunnel. A method includes: lowering the vessel through water to a submerged target payload; maneuvering the vessel and/or payload to position the payload on the hull structure between the side walls; and raising the vessel and payload toward the water surface.

A waterborne vessel includes a hull structure, longitudinal and transverse drive tunnels, and one or more thrusters. The hull structure has a base and side walls forming a U-shaped cross-section, open forward and aft ends, and an open top. The drive tunnels extend through the base portion of the hull structure. Each thruster is located at a corresponding intersection of longitudinal and transverse drive tunnels. Each thruster drives water flow through the corresponding drive tunnels and is rotatable about a vertical axis among multiple different thruster orientations in which the thruster drives water flow in one direction or the other through the corresponding longitudinal or transverse drive tunnel. A method includes: lowering the vessel through water to a submerged target payload; maneuvering the vessel and/or payload to position the payload on the hull structure between the side walls; and raising the vessel and payload toward the water surface.

An underwater body having a movable component which can be moved into a retracted position and, as a result, increases the volume of the underwater body. In addition, a method is disclosed for operating such an underwater body. An expansion means conducts a fluid into a hollow space. The hollow space is operatively connected to the movable component. When the fluid is conducted into the hollow space, the movable component is moved into the extended position relative to the shell of the underwater body. The fluid in the hollow space hardens. The hardened fluid in the hollow space holds the movable component in the extended position.