Systems and methods are provided for using an additively manufactured vehicle, such as an UUV, with additively manufactured modules. The vehicle may be configurable such that additively manufactured modules or components may be detachably connected to the vehicle by hand, without the use of tools. Such modules may include connectors adapted to securely attach additional modules that may be detached by hand, without the use of tools. The additively manufactured modules may include ball bearings for rotating modules such as propellers and thrusters, and clips or tabs for detachable connection. The modules may include optical components for communications between a swarm of unmanned vehicles. Such optical modules for underwater vehicles may utilize nephelometry and/or turbidimetry to improve communications parameters based on scattered light measurements.

A device is disclosed for deflating a gas cavity about a projectile formed upon entry of the projectile into a liquid. The device can include a wall coupleable with a body operable as a projectile and defining an exterior and an interior space. The wall can be oriented toward a trailing end relative to a leading end defined by the body. The device can also include at least one inlet to facilitate gas flow from the exterior to the interior space. An outlet can facilitate gas flow from the interior space to the exterior and can be oriented toward the trailing end relative to the at least one inlet. Upon entry of the body and the wall into a liquid and formation of a gas cavity about a portion of the body and the wall, the at least one inlet can be located within the gas cavity and the outlet can be located outside the gas cavity, such that gas flows from the exterior through the at least one inlet to the interior space, and from the interior space through the outlet to the exterior to deflate the gas cavity.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a programmable system for a munition, comprising: an electroacoustic transducer, arranged to receive an acoustic signal comprising data, and convert that signal into an electrical signal comprising data; a processor, arranged to receive and process the electrical signal comprising data, and to use that data in programming of the programmable system.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an object for moving through a fluid, the object comprising: an outer housing, arranged to be exposed to a hydrostatic pressure exerted by the fluid; a strain gauge, arranged to obtain an indication of the hydrostatic pressure, wherein a first part of the strain gauge is arranged to be in contact with the outer housing, such that the strain gauge is arranged to obtain an indication of the hydrostatic pressure by obtaining an indication of the strain on the housing.

A projectile including: a shell; a rotating shaft; and a screw which can be rotated by the rotating shaft. The screw and the shell include, respectively, a stop and a counter-stop opposite each other. The screw is capable of sliding axially between a first position, in which a non-zero clearance is provided between the stop and counter-stop, and a second position, in which the stop and counter-stop are in contact. An elastic return element reversibly deformable between a first and a second state of stress which correspond to the first and second positions of the screw, respectively, the stress of the first state being lower than the stress of the second state.

A projectile including: a shell; a rotating shaft; and a screw which can be rotated by the rotating shaft. The screw and the shell include, respectively, a stop and a counter-stop opposite each other. The screw is capable of sliding axially between a first position, in which a non-zero clearance is provided between the stop and counter-stop, and a second position, in which the stop and counter-stop are in contact. An elastic return element reversibly deformable between a first and a second state of stress which correspond to the first and second positions of the screw, respectively, the stress of the first state being lower than the stress of the second state.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a fuze arming system for a submunition, comprising: a first stage, arranged to detect launch of the submunition and its associated carrier; a second stage, arranged to detect expulsion of the submunition from the carrier, and to at least partially arm a submunition fuze based on such detection; wherein the second stage is unable to at least partially arm the submunition fuze without the first stage detecting launch of the submunition and its associated carrier.

A projectile including: a shell; a rotating shaft; and a screw which can be rotated by the rotating shaft. The screw and the shell include, respectively, a stop and a counter-stop, opposite each other. The screw is capable of sliding axially between a first position, in which a non-zero clearance, is provided between the stop and counter-stop, and a second position, in which the stop and counter-stop are in contact. An elastic return element reversibly deformable between a first and a second state of stress which correspond to the first and second positions of the screw, respectively, the stress of the first state being lower than the stress of the second state.

A projectile including: a shell; a rotating shaft; and a screw which can be rotated by the rotating shaft. The screw and the shell include, respectively, a stop and a counter-stop, opposite each other. The screw is capable of sliding axially between a first position, in which a non-zero clearance, is provided between the stop and counter-stop, and a second position, in which the stop and counter-stop are in contact. An elastic return element reversibly deformable between a first and a second state of stress which correspond to the first and second positions of the screw, respectively, the stress of the first state being lower than the stress of the second state.

The present invention is broadly directed to an unmanned surface vessel (USV) 10 broadly comprising: 1. a vessel body (12) adapted to contain a payload (14); 2. a front fin (16) and a rear fin (18) connected to and protruding from the vessel body (12); 3. a forward foil (20) and a rearward foil (22) connected to a distal end region of the respective front and rear fins (16) and (18); 4. propulsion means (24) operatively coupled to the rear fin (18) for propulsion of the fin (18) and the foil (22) through the water.