Abstract: Techniques are provided for an unmanned surface vehicle including a vehicle body and a rigid square-rig wing coupled with the primary vehicle body. The rigid square-rig wing includes a first surface configured to interact with wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of drag, and a second surface configured to interact with the wind to generate a force that propels the primary vehicle body in a direction of travel that is primarily composed of lift. The unmanned surface vehicle further includes a rudder and a control system comprising a controller, the control system configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder to the rudder position.

Abstract: The purpose is to provide a program, method and device for controlling a movable body (e.g., single-propeller single-rudder ship) to move the movable body while keeping it orientated in a given direction. A controlling module may cause the movable body to stay at a fixed point position by controlling a thrust generator and a moving direction adjustor to orient the movable body to a direction of a disturbance estimated by a disturbance direction estimating module so that the movable body is not drifted by the disturbance. Every time the changing module sequentially changes the fixed point position, the controlling module may move the movable body to the changed fixed point position. Thus, the control device of the movable body of this disclosure may sequentially move the movable body while keeping it oriented to the direction of the disturbance.

Abstract: An unmanned, autonomous, ocean-going vessel including a primary hull and a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull that freely rotates about a rotational axis. At least one of the primary hull and the rigid wing includes at least one selectively floodable compartment configured to selectively flood to submerge the primary hull and at least a portion of the rigid wing. The vessel further includes at least one controller configured to maintain a desired heading. The vessel further includes a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a force exerted by wind on the control surface element. The vessel further includes a rudder. The at least one controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder. The vessel further includes a keel coupled with the primary hull.

Abstract: There are provided a shell of a pressure-resistant container that is made of ceramics, is used for a pressure-resistant container formed with a through hole, and can be made higher in strength and lighter in weight, as well as to provide a pressure-resistant container and an exploratory apparatus. A shell of a pressure-resistant container includes a shell portion and a thick-walled portion. The shell portion is made of ceramics and has a convexly-curved surface. The thick-walled portion is made of ceramics, continues into the shell portion, is larger in thickness than the shell portion, and has a through hole penetrating through the thick-walled portion in a thickness direction thereof.

Abstract: An unmanned ocean-going vessel including a primary hull, a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull where the rigid wing freely rotates about a rotational axis of the rigid wing, a controller configured to maintain a desired heading, a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a position of the control surface element, where the controller is configured to determine a control surface angle and generate a signal to position the control surface element based on the control surface angle, a rudder, where the controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder to the rudder position, and a keel including ballast sufficient to provide a positive righting moment sufficient to cause the primary hull to passively right from any position.

Abstract: A fleet of autonomous sailing vessels that are equipped with monitoring and communication equipment for reporting environmental and other conditions. For optimal stability, the autonomous sailing vessels are multi-hulled vessels (catamarans) with self-righting capabilities. Each sailing vessel sends and receives information via one or more satellite links, using solar power to power the communications equipment as well as the monitoring equipment. Each sailing vessel includes an auto-sailtrim system to maintain a desired attack angle with the wind, and electric propulsion for use as required to maintain a desired heading. A modular design is used to support mission-specific payloads.

Abstract: An unmanned ocean-going vessel including a primary hull, a rigid wing rotationally coupled with the primary hull where the rigid wing freely rotates about a rotational axis of the rigid wing, a controller configured to maintain a desired heading, a control surface element configured to aerodynamically control a wing angle of the rigid wing based on a position of the control surface element, where the controller is configured to determine a control surface angle and generate a signal to position the control surface element based on the control surface angle, a rudder, where the controller is further configured to determine a rudder position and generate a signal to position the rudder to the rudder position, and a keel including ballast sufficient to provide a positive righting moment sufficient to cause the primary hull to passively right from any position.

Abstract: A fleet of autonomous sailing vessels that are equipped with monitoring and communication equipment for reporting environmental and other conditions. For optimal stability, the autonomous sailing vessels are multi-hulled vessels (catamarans) with self-righting capabilities. Each sailing vessel sends and receives information via one or more satellite links, using solar power to power the communications equipment as well as the monitoring equipment. Each sailing vessel includes an auto-sailtrim system to maintain a desired attack angle with the wind, and electric propulsion for use as required to maintain a desired heading. A modular design is used to support mission-specific payloads.

Abstract: A device that mounts onto the front of a kayak to assist in righting the kayak after it rolls over. It consists of a small mast that is attached to a hinged base. An inflatable bag is attached to the top of the mast along with equipment to inflate the bag. A lanyard is attached to the inflation equipment and to the top of the mast. In a rollover, the user pulls the lanyard, which causes the bag to inflate and the mast to rotate 90 degrees. This places the mast perpendicular to the kayak with the inflated bag at the far end of the mast. The inflated bag acts like an outrigger that causes the kayak to roll back upright automatically. In this way, the kayak is turned upright with minimal problems and difficulties for the user.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, the invention is a water craft. The water craft has a hull 1 and a sail arrangement, and carries a fishing line and baited hook. The water craft can sail across a body of water unmanned to a desired location for fishing. The water craft has control means which enables a fisherman on-shore to cause the water craft's sail to drop, thus minimizing further movement of the water craft. The water craft has self righting means 23 which causes it to revert back to a normal in-use orientation if it is overturned while on the body of water. More particularly, the self righting means incorporates a weight which is acted on by gravity to pull the water craft into the normal in use orientation.