A novel emissions control watercraft (STAXcraft) solving a long-felt but unsolved need regarding disadvantages associated with prior-art emissions servicing watercraft, the disadvantages selected from the group, but not limited to, the use of tugboats, securing or mooring servicing watercraft to a serviced vessel, additional expenses and time-delays and inefficiencies of land-based approaches, increased toxic emissions, increased greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, danger from falling cargo, tanker safety, alongside mooring in narrow channels preventing other OGV's to pass safely, and cargo tank emissions.

Maritime threat-sensing buoys include sensors—such as acoustic, radio frequency, visual, or other sensing devices—that track, identify, or classify hypersonic or underwater threats in real time. Some examples of suitable sensing devices include microphones, radio-frequency (“RF”) detectors (for example, RF antennas), infrared detectors, and machine-vision detectors. The maritime threat-sensing buoys may be deployed using aerial or maritime vessels, and may host payloads, such as threat-sensing mechanisms, batteries to power the threat-sensing mechanisms, solar panels configured to deliver electricity or other energy to the batteries or other devices, and other cargo or contents.

A portable marine camping apparatus that is configured to provide a camping and recreational platform that can navigate waterways wherein the present invention is inflatable so as to facilitate easy transport thereof. The present invention includes a deck assembly that is superposed a hull portion wherein the deck assembly is planar in manner and includes rigid high pressure air chambers. Integrally formed with the deck assembly is a tent module wherein the tent module is manufactured from inflatable components and is deployed during inflation of the deck assembly. A boat unit is operably coupled to the rear of the deck assembly and is configured to provide propulsion of the portable marine camping apparatus 100. A fire module is formed with the deck assembly and is manufactured from steel grate panels. The fire assembly further includes a receptacle for receiving combustible materials.

According to the invention an energy conversion system, in particular a solar park, is proposed, which is configured to be arranged floating on a body of water, with at least three floating units (48a, 48b) and with at least one connection device (66), wherein the connection device (66) connects at least two floating units (48) in a rigid manner and/or at least two floating units (48a, 48b) in a movable manner.

An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.

The system and method of retractable solar arrays for underwater vehicles. In some cases, the retractable solar arrays for underwater vehicles contain anti-biofouling mechanisms. The retractable solar arrays may extend in a linear or a fan-like manner. In some cases, the solar array may be wrapped around the outside of the underwater vehicle or within a cylindrical housing. In some cases the solar array is a single flexible member with a series of connected panels.

A method, system, and apparatus for collecting waste. In one embodiment, an autonomous plastic collecting robot (APCR) device for collecting waste may include a net structure that picks up micro plastic particles dispersed in water; a tube that transports the micro plastics collected by the net structure into a main internal container; an artificial tongue for collecting larger plastics, the artificial tongue comprised of a rolling staircase with fork-like structures in placed of the stairs; a plastic degrading medium contained in the main internal container; a no-joint tail structure which acts as the primary power source for the APCR, the no-joint tail structure housing dielectric elastomer materials and a rotation shaft located between at least two electric generators.

This invention provides a vessel system and methodology that can be used to promote growth of phytoplankton in the oceans. Unmanned self-controlled wave-powered vessels are equipped with storage units for dispensing a fertilizer, and with sensors to monitor ocean conditions and effects. Fleets of vessels move autonomously by on-board processing of GPS and directional information, piloting a path that is coordinated by a central processing unit. The vessels travel through a defined target area, creating a detailed survey of chemical and biological characteristics that affect grown. The data are processed in a computer model to identify precise locations and precise amounts of fertilizer that will produce the best results. Projected benefits of fertilizing plankton include sequestering CO.sub.2 from the atmosphere, and enhancing the marine food chain to improve the fish stock in and around the treated area.

Systems and associated methods for rapid integration and control of payloads carded by a multi-mode, unmanned vehicle configured to accommodate a variety of payloads of varying size, shape, and interface and control characteristics. Mechanical, power, signal, and logical interfaces to a variety of payloads operate to enable environmental protection, efficient placement and connection to the vehicle, and control of those payloads in multiple environmental modes as well as operational modes (including in air, on the surface of water surface, and underwater).

According to the invention an energy conversion system, in particular a solar park, is proposed, which is configured to be arranged floating on a body of water, with at least three floating units (48a, 48b) and with at least one connection device (66), wherein the connection device (66) connects at least two floating units (48) in a rigid manner and/or at least two floating units (48a, 48b) in a movable manner.