An AUV support system includes: a surface ship; an underwater station configured to support an AUV which autonomously sails in water; and a cable connecting the surface ship and the underwater station. The cable includes: a first cable portion extending downward from the surface ship through a water surface when the underwater station is suspended in the water by the cable from the surface ship that is in a stop state on the water; a second cable portion extending upward from a lower end portion of the first cable portion when the underwater station is suspended as above; and a third cable portion extending downward from an upper end portion of the second cable portion and connected to the underwater station when the underwater station is suspended as above.

Systems and methods for launching and retrieving payloads in aquatic environments employ a platform that is both floatable and submersible at the discretion of and/or under the control of a user, on which submersible objects to be launched, delivered to a subsea location and/or retrieved (the payload) may be located. The submergible platform has a plurality of sealed and/or sealable buoyancy chambers and at least one low pressure gas storage tank having associated fixtures and valves providing introduction of gas to the buoyancy chambers. A payload docking system providing secure docking of a payload on the platform deck is also disclosed.

A method of deploying autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), the method comprising loading the AUVs into a deployment device; submerging the deployment device containing the AUVs after the AUVs have been loaded into the deployment device; towing the submerged deployment device containing the AUVs with a surface vessel; deploying the AUVs from the submerged deployment device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and operating a thruster of each AUV after it has been deployed so that it moves away from the submerged deployment device. A method of retrieving autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is also disclosed, the method comprising towing a submerged retrieval device with a surface vessel; loading the AUVs into the submerged retrieval device as it is towed by the surface vessel; and after the AUVs have been loaded into the submerged retrieval device, lifting the submerged retrieval device containing the AUVs out of the water and onto the surface vessel.

An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

A Data Transmitting Marine Vessel System (DRTMEVS) that deploys and provisions the operation of both an aerial visual and data collection drone and an underwater camera and data collection system ROV to gather data at, above, and below the surface of the water simultaneously or individually, or in multiples. The vessel having geodetic and GPS guidance systems that determine the course and actions of the crafts either in a pre-programmed autonomous mode or from a remote operator. The control of the three separate remotely controlled data collection systems and craft are consolidated in the form of a vessel of (DRTMEVS) and monitored via a multitude of possible signals anywhere in the world from a control center such as an individual computer.

The present disclosure relates to an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) launch and recovery device driven by an elastic linkage mechanism for an extra-large unmanned underwater vehicle (XLUUV). The AUV launch and recovery device includes a hydraulic device, a push plate and a tubular device box, where the tubular device box adopts a frame-type tubular structure with a closed end; the push plate is fixed to a hydraulic rod, the hydraulic rod is controlled to stretch, and furthermore, the push plate is controlled to radially slide in a groove; and as the push plate is controlled to move radially, an inner diameter of a ring part of the inelastic linkage rope is narrowed or enlarged, so that inelastic hauling ropes are pulled to move axially, and the front end of the elastic rubber plates is further pulled to achieve an expanding or contracting state of an recovery/launch opening.

A system for navigation of an autonomously navigating submersible body during entry into a docking station below the water surface includes a determiner for determining an actual motion vector of the autonomously navigation submersible body in relation to the set motion vector describing the optimum entry direction into the docking station and a calculating unit. The calculating unit serves to determine the deviation between the actual motion vector and the set motion vector to determine control vectors based on the deviation and to thereby control the autonomously navigating submersible body during entry.

A charging system includes a charging station having: a base underwater; a pole extending in an upper-lower direction; and a power supplying portion. An AUV includes: an underwater main body; a power receiving portion; a holding device including a pair of guide and holding portions, the pair of guide portions guides the pole to a holding position after the pole contacts the guide portions from a proceeding-direction, the holding portion holds the pole to be rotatable relative to the pole; a thrust generating apparatus generates in a horizontal direction; and a control device controls the thrust generating apparatus. A light emitter at one of the base and the underwater main body, and a light receiver is provided at the other. The control device controls the thrust so the underwater main body reaches a rotational position where the light receiver receives light emitted, the rotational position set relative to the pole.

A submersible node and a method and system for using the node to acquire data, including seismic data is disclosed. The node incorporates a buoyancy system to provide propulsion for the node between respective landed locations by varying the buoyancy between positive and negative. A first acoustic positioning system is used to facilitate positioning of a node when landing and a second acoustic positioning system is used to facilitate a node transiting between respective target landed locations.

A virtual security network system can be used to prevent, deter or cease intrusion of an unauthorized person, animal or object into a secured area. The virtual security network system can include sensor units, a drone and a wide area network. Sensor units can be placed throughout a secured area and include a multitude of sensors with different capabilities that can detect a breach of the secured area. The drone can be mobilized upon receipt of a signal from a sensor unit when the secured area is breached to track an intruder. The drone can be equipped with pulsing lasers or a strobe light. The virtual security network system can also include a satellite, unmanned aerial vehicle, a launching and charging station for drone release and/or a drone fleet.