A method for regulating the buoyancy of an underwater vehicle in such a way that it substantially exhibits a predetermined target buoyancy Fc when it is immersed in a volume of liquid delimited by a first surface and a second surface, along a vertical axis, the method includes starting from an initial buoyancy of the vehicle that keeps the vehicle at the level of the first surface, a first step of modifying the density of the vehicle so that it moves closer to the second surface, the first step being implemented as far as a second step of detecting the crossing, by the vehicle, of a predetermined non-zero threshold on distance with respect to the first surface, along the vertical axis, then a third step of modifying the density of the vehicle until the vehicle exhibits substantially the target buoyancy.

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 automatic depth regulation system uses changes in water pressure to automatically control the depth of an underwater vehicle. The system uses a piston chamber having a piston that is movably disposed within the chamber and mechanically linked to the vehicle's fins. The bottom of the piston is subjected to pressure from the ambient environment through which the vehicle travels. The chamber contains a compressible medium at a preselected pressure above the piston. A spring is also above the piston in the chamber. Changes in ambient pressure on the bottom of the piston causes the piston to move within the chamber, thereby rotating the fins to adjust the depth of the vehicle to the desired, preselected, depth. The desired depth is determined by the pressure and spring force exerted on the top of the piston in opposition to the ambient pressure.

An automatic depth regulation system uses changes in water pressure to automatically control the depth of an underwater vehicle. The system uses a piston chamber having a piston that is movably disposed within the chamber and mechanically linked to the vehicle's fins. The bottom of the piston is subjected to pressure from the ambient environment through which the vehicle travels. The chamber contains a compressible medium at a preselected pressure above the piston. A spring is also above the piston in the chamber. Changes in ambient pressure on the bottom of the piston causes the piston to move within the chamber, thereby rotating the fins to adjust the depth of the vehicle to the desired, preselected, depth. The desired depth is determined by the pressure and spring force exerted on the top of the piston in opposition to the ambient pressure.

An OTEC system and method utilize rigid containers, each of which defines a sealed volume partially filled with heavy water. A vessel houses the rigid containers and is disposed in ocean water. The vessel transports the rigid containers between a surface of the ocean water and a depth D of the ocean water at which the heavy water freezes to become frozen heavy water. An OTEC plant located at the surface of the ocean water melts the frozen heavy water in a condensing process.

An OTEC system and method utilize rigid containers, each of which defines a sealed volume partially filled with heavy water. A vessel houses the rigid containers and is disposed in ocean water. The vessel transports the rigid containers between a surface of the ocean water and a depth D of the ocean water at which the heavy water freezes to become frozen heavy water. An OTEC plant located at the surface of the ocean water melts the frozen heavy water in a condensing process.

A water submersible vehicle, the vehicle has a variable buoyancy system where flight of the submersible is controlled by a forward thruster forward of the center of displacement and that regulates both pitch and up-and-down hover. The vehicle in combination with a control system allows the user using to use only two control elements, one with each hand, to fly the vehicle by controlling motion along long axis, yaw, pitch and roll. An ergonomic submersible pod may be incorporated into the water submersible vehicle. The ergonomic submersible pod may also be used with other flight systems to provide for new types of low cost underwater travel.

A water submersible vehicle, the vehicle has a variable buoyancy system where flight of the submersible is controlled by a forward thruster forward of the center of displacement and that regulates both pitch and up-and-down hover. The vehicle in combination with a control system allows the user using to use only two control elements, one with each hand, to fly the vehicle by controlling motion along long axis, yaw, pitch and roll. An ergonomic submersible pod may be incorporated into the water submersible vehicle. The ergonomic submersible pod may also be used with other flight systems to provide for new types of low cost underwater travel.

An underwater vehicle includes a plurality of releasable panel members that are initially in a storage state in which the releasable panel members form a closed housing and the underwater vehicle is neutrally buoyant, an actuatable effector that is retained in the closed housing. The effector has an anchor and a positively buoyant upper unit opposite the anchor. When the plurality of releasable panel members are released to open the closed housing, the effector is separable from the releasable panel members and maintained in a vertically downward direction by the anchor and the positively buoyant upper unit.

An underwater vehicle includes a plurality of releasable panel members that are initially in a storage state in which the releasable panel members form a closed housing and the underwater vehicle is neutrally buoyant, an actuatable effector that is retained in the closed housing. The effector has an anchor and a positively buoyant upper unit opposite the anchor. When the plurality of releasable panel members are released to open the closed housing, the effector is separable from the releasable panel members and maintained in a vertically downward direction by the anchor and the positively buoyant upper unit.