An example underwater vehicle includes a first section detachably coupled to a second section that is positioned forward of the first section, and a hinge detachably coupling the first section to the second section, where the hinge creates a pivot between the first section and the second section. The underwater vehicle includes a lock having a locked position and an unlocked position, where, in the locked position, the lock couples the first section and the second section together, and where, in the unlocked position, the second section is capable of decoupling from the first section. The underwater vehicle also includes a drag fin associated with the second section that is movable to an extended position away from the second section to create a drag force which causes the second section to pivot about the hinge, away from the first section, when the underwater vehicle is traveling through a fluid medium.

A self-balancing pressure hull device, belonging to the field of pressure structure technology of deep-sea submersibles, being assembled by nesting, from inside to outside, a spherical inner housing, a spherical intermediate housing and a spherical outer housing around the sphere center, pairs of symmetric coaxial connecting shaft components being connected between the spherical inner housing and the spherical intermediate housing and between the spherical intermediate housing and the spherical outer housing, respectively; axes of the two pairs of connecting shaft components are perpendicular to each other so as to enable the spherical inner housing and the spherical intermediate housing to rotate relative to each other, and the spherical intermediate housing and the spherical outer housing to rotate relative to each other, and each of the connecting shaft components in the two pairs being provided with a spring damper for resisting the axial impact between each two adjacent housings.

A self-balancing pressure hull device, belonging to the field of pressure structure technology of deep-sea submersibles, being assembled by nesting, from inside to outside, a spherical inner housing, a spherical intermediate housing and a spherical outer housing around the sphere center, pairs of symmetric coaxial connecting shaft components being connected between the spherical inner housing and the spherical intermediate housing and between the spherical intermediate housing and the spherical outer housing, respectively; axes of the two pairs of connecting shaft components are perpendicular to each other so as to enable the spherical inner housing and the spherical intermediate housing to rotate relative to each other, and the spherical intermediate housing and the spherical outer housing to rotate relative to each other, and each of the connecting shaft components in the two pairs being provided with a spring damper for resisting the axial impact between each two adjacent housings.

The present invention provides a self-draining oil buoyancy regulating device for underwater robots, wherein the accumulator, lower hatch cover, hatch trunk, upper hatch cover and bladder are connected; the water-proof connector is fixed on the upper hatch cover; the depth-pressure sensor is settled on the lower hatch cover; the upper valve block, hydraulic-operated check valve and lower valve block are connected; the lower valve block is fixed on the lower hatch cover; the pump outlet pressure sensor and the accumulator pressure sensor are on the lower valve block; the directional valve and the upper valve block are connected; the hydraulic pump motor assembly and the relief valve are both connected with the lower valve block; the depth-pressure sensor, pump outlet pressure sensor and accumulator pressure sensor are all connected with the control panel; the control panel is connected with the external power supply and the host computer.

The present invention provides a self-draining oil buoyancy regulating device for underwater robots, wherein the accumulator, lower hatch cover, hatch trunk, upper hatch cover and bladder are connected; the water-proof connector is fixed on the upper hatch cover; the depth-pressure sensor is settled on the lower hatch cover; the upper valve block, hydraulic-operated check valve and lower valve block are connected; the lower valve block is fixed on the lower hatch cover; the pump outlet pressure sensor and the accumulator pressure sensor are on the lower valve block; the directional valve and the upper valve block are connected; the hydraulic pump motor assembly and the relief valve are both connected with the lower valve block; the depth-pressure sensor, pump outlet pressure sensor and accumulator pressure sensor are all connected with the control panel; the control panel is connected with the external power supply and the host computer.

A marine seismic data acquisition system and method of conducting a marine seismic survey are disclosed. The system incorporates one or more surface vessels, and a plurality of autonomous nodes for acquiring seismic data at one or more seabed locations. Each node comprises a USBL, SSBL or SBL transducer and USBL, SSBL or SBL acoustic modem. A first acoustic positioning system is operable between one of the surface vessels and the nodes, the first acoustic positioning system being a USBL, SSBL or SBL system. Each node of the plurality of autonomous nodes has a USBL, SSBL or SBL beacon address, with respective groups of nodes having the same beacon address. The nodes are configured such that no two nodes with the same beacon address can actively communicate over an associated USBL, SSBL or SBL modem at the same time.

A marine seismic data acquisition system and method of conducting a marine seismic survey are disclosed. The system incorporates one or more surface vessels, and a plurality of autonomous nodes for acquiring seismic data at one or more seabed locations. Each node comprises a USBL, SSBL or SBL transducer and USBL, SSBL or SBL acoustic modem. A first acoustic positioning system is operable between one of the surface vessels and the nodes, the first acoustic positioning system being a USBL, SSBL or SBL system. Each node of the plurality of autonomous nodes has a USBL, SSBL or SBL beacon address, with respective groups of nodes having the same beacon address. The nodes are configured such that no two nodes with the same beacon address can actively communicate over an associated USBL, SSBL or SBL modem at the same time.

A buoyant apparatus and method of use buoyancy to offset the weight of a load during immersion of the load in a fluid medium such as a payload manipulated by a cable and crane or by a remotely operated undersea vehicle. Buoyancy modules that can be of different size and shape have elongated supports that are attachable via complementary connection fixtures at the ends. The attached supports form a skeleton of the array. The connection fixtures are axially resiliently compressible and maintain the buoyancy modules in abutment notwithstanding shrinkage or expansion of the buoyant material due to hydrostatic pressure that increases with depth.

A buoyant apparatus and method of use buoyancy to offset the weight of a load during immersion of the load in a fluid medium such as a payload manipulated by a cable and crane or by a remotely operated undersea vehicle. Buoyancy modules that can be of different size and shape have elongated supports that are attachable via complementary connection fixtures at the ends. The attached supports form a skeleton of the array. The connection fixtures are axially resiliently compressible and maintain the buoyancy modules in abutment notwithstanding shrinkage or expansion of the buoyant material due to hydrostatic pressure that increases with depth.

An example underwater vehicle includes a first section detachably coupled to a second section that is positioned forward of the first section, and a hinge detachably coupling the first section to the second section, where the hinge creates a pivot between the first section and the second section. The underwater vehicle includes a lock having a locked position and an unlocked position, where, in the locked position, the lock couples the first section and the second section together, and where, in the unlocked position, the second section is capable of decoupling from the first section. The underwater vehicle also includes a drag fin associated with the second section that is movable to an extended position away from the second section to create a drag force which causes the second section to pivot about the hinge, away from the first section, when the underwater vehicle is traveling through a fluid medium.