Abstract: A real-time in-situ sensor system is provided for measurement of bioluminescence and determination of bioluminescence surface signature. The system measures bioluminescence in the wake of a submerged moving object as well as ambient light levels outside of the wake. Along with measurements of depth and water-quality parameters including turbidity, temperature and salinity, the surface signature of the induced underwater bioluminescence can be calculated by considering light transmission and attenuation through water. With this real-time information, the operator of the submerged moving object can employ tactical maneuvers to affect the resultant surface signature.

Abstract: The static soft rail launch and recovery system provides an anchor or piling located in a body of water away from the shoreline. The anchor remains at a fixed point under water, while being attached to cables having their opposite ends affixed on land to tension the cables. The cables become like rails due to static tension between the two fixed points. The watercraft is placed on a sling carriage that is slidably mounted on the cables and capable of sliding down the cables to launch the watercraft into the water. The watercraft is recovered by a winch cable tied to the watercraft and connected to a recovery winch. The system may be modified to use a single tow cable, attached to an anchor or piling. The system is used to launch watercraft of various sizes, and other payloads, and may be deployed for military, commercial, or emergency missions.

Abstract: The static soft rail launch and recovery system provides an anchor or piling located in a body of water away from the shoreline. The anchor remains at a fixed point under water, while being attached to cables having their opposite ends affixed on land to tension the cables. The cables become like rails due to static tension between the two fixed points. The watercraft is placed on a sling carriage that is slidably mounted on the cables and capable of sliding down the cables to launch the watercraft into the water. The watercraft is recovered by a winch cable tied to the watercraft and connected to a recovery winch. The system may be modified to use a single tow cable, attached to an anchor or piling. The system is used to launch watercraft of various sizes, and other payloads, and may be deployed for military, commercial, or emergency missions.

Abstract: The launch and recovery system provides a dive wing and drogue assembly that is towed behind a ship by cables. The dive wing imparts a downward thrust to the drogue, so that the drogue is towed underwater, placing tension on the cables. The cables become stiff due to the speed of the ship and the weight and depth of the dive wing and drogue assembly, so that the cables take on the character of rails. The boat or watercraft to be launched is placed on a sling carriage that is slidably mounted on the cables, so that the sling slides down the cables, launching the watercraft in the stable wake of the ship. The watercraft is recovered by tying a winch cable or line to the watercraft, winching the watercraft back onto the sling, and winching the sling back onto the fantail of the ship.

Abstract: A personal emergency location system (PELS) employs a small battery-powered personal unit worn by a person who may be lost overboard. The personal unit has a GPS receiver and processor for determining the person's GPS location coordinates, and an RF transmitter for sending an RF emergency signal with the GPS coordinate data to a nearby vessel within a short range. The nearby vessel is equipped as a base station to receive the RF emergency signal and the person's GPS coordinate data and send out an RF broadcast signal of the person's position over a long range to the authorities or other rescue vessels. The personal unit is updated with the most current GPS data and recharged during inactive periods when the person on-board a vessel equipped as a base station. The personal unit sends the emergency signal until an acknowledgment signal is received from a base station, whereupon the personal unit is placed in a “Receive-Only” mode to save battery power.

Abstract: The invention is an underwater weapon dispenser for delivering weapons to a ocation which is remote from a water vehicle. The dispenser includes at least one pod which is capable of receiving at least one weapon system, such as torpedo or mines. The pod is hydrodynamically shaped and is slightly negatively buoyant. The pod has at least one hydrofoil so that the pod will assume a glide path in the water. Provision is made for releasably attaching the pod with its weapon to the water vehicle so that the pod can be released from the water vehicle to assume a downward glide angle path. The pod is provided with a releasable anchor which, upon release, anchors the now buoyant pod at a predetermined depth. With this arrangement, pods can be attached to the bottom hull portion of a surface vessel or a submarine for delivering the pods with their weapons to the bottom of the ocean, after which the weapons can be removed for accomplishing their intended purposes.