An attitude adjustment apparatus for a self-propelled bio-inspired robotic fish includes a fish body, where the fish body includes: a housing; a center-of-gravity adjustment assembly, located in the housing to adjust a center of gravity of the fish body, and including at least one counterweight and a screw-slider mechanism that drives the counterweight to move in a head-to-tail direction; and a suction and drainage system, located in the housing to adjust a weight of the fish body, and including a ballast tank and a water control assembly for controlling a water level in the ballast tank. The center-of-gravity adjustment assembly is combined with the suction and drainage system to rapidly change the weight and center of gravity of the fish body, so as to quickly adjust the pitching attitude and heaving state of the robotic fish.

An unmanned underwater vehicle having one, some, or all of an integrated communication control fin, a ballast and trim control, a reusable trigger mechanism for a drop weight, and a visual hull display. Furthermore, associated methods are also provided.

An unmanned underwater vehicle having one, some, or all of an integrated communication control fin, a ballast and trim control, a reusable trigger mechanism for a drop weight, and a visual hull display. Furthermore, associated methods are also provided.

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).

In an underwater glider, stability and versatility can be enhanced by the use of a high wing design. In a high wing design, a centerline of the wings extending from the sides of the body of the glider are located above a relative centerline of the body of the glider. The relative centerline of the wings may rise continuously from a region where the wings attach to the body to respective ends of the wings. In particular for a blended wing glider, a top surface of the glider is level in a line extending between ends of each wing.

A rebalancing device for rebalancing of an underwater vehicle comprises at least one thruster and at least one storage space. The rebalancing device comprises control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to receive sensor data comprising information relating to a depth and an attitude of the underwater vehicle, and thruster data comprising information relating to thrust and orientation of thrust of the at least one thruster. The control circuitry is further configured to determine a difference between a centre of gravity, CoG, of the underwater vehicle and a centre of buoyancy, CoB, of the underwater vehicle based on the sensor data and the thruster data, and to determine a difference between a gravitational force acting on the underwater vehicle and a buoyancy of the underwater vehicle based on the sensor data and the thruster data.

A rebalancing device for rebalancing of an underwater vehicle comprises at least one thruster and at least one storage space. The rebalancing device comprises control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to receive sensor data comprising information relating to a depth and an attitude of the underwater vehicle, and thruster data comprising information relating to thrust and orientation of thrust of the at least one thruster. The control circuitry is further configured to determine a difference between a centre of gravity, CoG, of the underwater vehicle and a centre of buoyancy, CoB, of the underwater vehicle based on the sensor data and the thruster data, and to determine a difference between a gravitational force acting on the underwater vehicle and a buoyancy of the underwater vehicle based on the sensor data and the thruster data.

The present disclosure relates to sea floor mapping, and more particularly to a method, system, and apparatus for mapping a large swath of sea floor at substantial depths. An example autonomous underwater vehicle may include: a controller; a body having a front end and a rear end and defining a cavity and a center of gravity; a first dive plane extending from the body proximate the center of gravity; a second dive plane extending from the body substantially opposite of the first dive plane proximate the center of gravity; a counterweight disposed within the cavity configured to be moved between the front end and the rear end of the body, wherein a fore-aft pitch of the body of the autonomous underwater vehicle is controlled by the controller through movement of the counterweight toward the front end or the rear end of the body.

Autonomous underwater vehicles and systems are provided with fast stabilization and fine attitude control with a constant and high rotational speed flying wheel to rotate the vehicle's body with respect to its core and optionally a combination of reaction masses used in three perpendicular axes. The gimbal and the reaction mass inertial systems are used for fast response to any angular or linear disturbance coming from the ocean current or waves. When equipped for optical communications, the vehicle has an optical receiver and transmitter and controller that provides three levels of attitude stabilization: gimbal and the reaction mass inertial systems; isolated movable platform and fine optical beam steering for targeting the laser beam from the transmitter. The ability to maintain precise positioning allows multiple vehicles to be optically linked.

The present invention relates to profiler systems and methods for observing and sensing aspects of a body of water at a plurality of depths. A water profiler is disclosed comprising, generally, a vessel body connected to an external mooring mechanism via an attachment mechanism, a drive mechanism for maneuvering the vessel body longitudinally about the mooring mechanism; an articulating mechanism; and a sensor array capable of measuring a parameter for study wherein the vessel body is capable of articulating about the mooring mechanism. In alternate embodiments, the articulation allows the vessel body to be placed in relation with the three dimensional current such that at least one sensor is positioned into the current so as to sample or measure undisturbed water. In alternate embodiments, hydrofoils or wings are mounted to the vessel body that can be manipulated to harness the current force and maneuver the vessel body.