Abstract: The main components of an exemplary inventive simulation are a towing platform (such as a ship), a towed body, an underwater vehicle (such as a UUV), and a tow cable connecting the towing platform and the towed body. An objective of the dynamic arrangement of the components is to perform a “line capture” of the moving vehicle by the cable. Respective motions and positions of the towing platform and the towed body affect the cable. Waves and currents in the water, as well as changes in catenary and tension of the cable, affect the tow body. Advantageously, the invention more accurately accounts not only for continuities, but also for discontinuities, characterizing the dynamic interrelationships between and among the components. Among the invention's features is its ability to “trigger” consideration of certain dynamic manifestations relating to the vehicle, depending on whether or not the vehicle is in a captured state.

Abstract: A marine vessel having a propeller that provides propulsive force to the marine vessel, and a course control system. The course control system includes a course changing mechanism that changes a course of the marine vessel, and a controller configured or programmed to detect a sudden movement of the marine vessel originating from broaching caused by a following wave of the marine vessel, and upon detecting the sudden movement of the marine vessel originating from the broaching, control a rotation rate of the propeller and/or cause the course changing mechanism to change the course of the marine vessel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a kite or wing with a canopy made of a film material which cannot be folded without being creased but having one or more strips of flexible material running across the canopy, wherein the flexible material can be folded without creasing, The kite or wing can be folded along the flexible material strips and then rolled up from the canopy ends for storage or transport.

Abstract: A flotation device that can include a multi-chamber flotation element having an active inflation chamber and a passive inflation chamber. The flotation device can have a first valve in fluid communication with the active inflation chamber but not the passive inflation chamber and an opening in fluid communication with the passive inflation chamber but not the active air chamber. The active inflation chamber can be configured to be inflated through the first valve. The active inflation chamber can be configured to expand the passive inflation chamber from a collapsed state to an expanded state as the active inflation chamber is expanded by, for example and without limitation, permitting ambient air to enter the passive inflation chamber when a pressure within the passive inflation chamber is less than an ambient air pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tank wall (1) fixed onto a supporting wall (3) wherein the secondary insulating barrier comprises a plurality of secondary rows (A, B, C) parallel to a first direction and juxtaposed in a second direction at right angles to the first direction according to a repeated pattern. The secondary sealed membrane comprises a plurality of strakes (21) parallel to the first direction, the size of the repeated pattern of the secondary rows (A, B, C) being an integer multiple of the size of a strake (21) in the second direction. The primary insulating barrier (5) comprises a plurality of primary rows parallel to the first direction, and the primary sealed membrane has first corrugations (56) parallel to the first direction and spaced apart by a first regular spacing (58), wherein the size of the repeated pattern of the primary rows is an integer multiple of said first regular spacing (58).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an underwater drone which is an unmanned mobile which can move in the water, and more particularly to a communication system for the underwater drone which performs communication between the underwater drone and a land-based controller (or maneuvering device). The present invention also relates to an airlock apparatus for the drone which transfers the drone into or from facilities or containers, or equipment sealed (or closed) against surrounding environment. The communication system for an underwater drone includes an underwater drone (1) configured to move in the water, at least one transmitting and receiving antenna (2) provided in an area where the transmitting and receiving antenna (2) can communicate with the underwater drone (1) by wireless communication, and a controller or a maneuvering device (5) connected to the at least one transmitting and receiving antenna (2) by a wired cable (4) and configured to control the underwater drone (1).

Abstract: A control system for an outboard motor is provided which enables safe navigation over a shoal. A control system for an outboard motor including a propeller includes: a trim angle adjustment motor for changing the attitude of the outboard motor with respect to a watercraft; and a controller configured to selectively implement first control that operates the trim angle adjustment motor and controls the vertical position of the propeller to a first position, and second control that operates the trim angle adjustment motor and controls the vertical position of the propeller to a second position closer to a water surface than the first position. The controller acquires information on the depth of water a predetermined distance ahead in the travel direction of the watercraft, and determines which of the first control and the second control is implemented, on the basis of at least the information on the depth of water.

Abstract: Flat belt apparatuses and methods are provided where one or more cords in the flat belt are tensioned or pre-tensioned to extend the service life of the flat belt.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the measurement and predictions of conditions and contaminants; chemical, particulate and gaseous in and around water impoundments. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of an autonomous watercraft to analyze the chemical and physical properties of a body of water, such as a pond holding water used in a hydraulic fracturing operation.

Abstract: An impact absorbing device includes a waterproof outer sleeve and a core assembly disposed within the outer sleeve. The core assembly includes a bendable structural element encased in foam.

Abstract: Various aspects provide for a propulsion system (200) for a ship (100) comprising at least first and second thrusters (205, 206) and first and second directors (220, 720), wherein a computing platform (300) is coupled to the thrusters and directors being configured to receive desired longitudinal and lateral headings (750, 760) and determine a configuration of the propulsion system that is expected to propel the ship in the desired longitudinal and lateral headings.

Abstract: An articulating top having a frame, a cover attached to the frame and a mounting bracket to attach the frame to a vehicle can be moved between a deployed position to provide shelter to an area below the top and a stowed position. The frame having main and secondary frame members in addition to one or more struts between a frame member and the vehicle to provide additional support to the frame such that the top can be used while the vehicle is in motion or in windy conditions. The top may also use one or more braces.

Abstract: An unmanned undersea vehicle includes one or more vehicle sections. The sections include a vehicle hull. The vehicle includes a data crypt configured to be selectively removable from the vehicle through the hull of the vehicle. The data crypt includes a persistent storage device configured to operate using SATA protocols and one or more electrical connectors configured to selectively connect the data crypt to electrical equipment in the vehicle, wherein the connectors are impedance matched to mating connectors in the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for providing a swim fin includes providing a foot attachment member and a blade member having a predetermined blade length. The blade member has a soft portion made with a relatively soft thermoplastic material. The method includes providing a relatively harder portion and the relatively soft thermoplastic portion that is molded to the relatively harder thermoplastic portion. The method includes providing an orthogonally spaced portion of the relatively harder portion that is arranged a predetermined orthogonal direction while said swim fin is in state of rest. The method includes providing the blade member with a predetermined biasing force portion that is arranged to urge the orthogonally spaced portion while the swim fin is in a state of rest. The method includes arranging a significant portion of the blade length to experience pivotal motion a lengthwise angle of attack during use.

Abstract: The present invention provides an operating method and an operating system of a multiple underwater vehicles 30, wherein exploration missions and exploration depths of the multiple underwater vehicles 30 are differently set in the underwater vehicles 30 for exploring a water bottom, the multiple underwater vehicles 30 are submerged to the respective set exploration depths, the multiple underwater vehicles 30 are made to cruise at the respective set exploration depths to execute the exploration missions, and execution results of the exploration missions are recorded and/or transmitted. According to this, it is possible to deploy and operate the multiple underwater vehicles and safely and efficiently explore the water bottom.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to water vessels with a bow-mounted detecting system and methods for monitoring movement of an anchor at a bow of a water vessel. More particularly, a water vessel as disclosed herein can include an anchor apparatus positioned in or on a hull of the water vessel at about a bow thereof, a detecting positioned in or on the hull of the water vessel at about the bow thereof and having a forward-directed field-of-view, and a display device adapted to receive from the detecting device and display one or more captured images of the forward scene. A method as disclosed herein can comprise providing a water vessel as disclosed herein, activating the display device to display the one or more captured images, and activating the anchor apparatus so as to cause motorized deployment or retrieval of an anchor. The water vessel can particularly provide for real-time monitoring of deploying and/or retrieving an anchor using the detecting device and the display device.

Abstract: Wakeboat fluid housing compartment fluid level sensing assemblies are provided. The assemblies can include: a wakeboat having a hull; a fluid housing compartment associated with the hull; a nonconductive sensor chamber positioned within the fluid housing compartment of the hull; and at least a pair of conductive electrodes associated with the sensor chamber, at least one of the pair of conductive electrodes being positioned within the nonconductive sensor chamber and electrically isolated from fluid within the fluid housing compartment. Methods for sensing a fluid level within a fluid housing compartment aboard a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include: maintaining fluid communication between the fluid level within the fluid housing compartment and a sensor chamber; and determining the electrical communication between at least a pair of electrodes operatively associated with the sensor chamber.

Abstract: A field configurable autonomous vehicle includes modular elements and attachable components. The vehicle can be assembled from these modular elements and components to meet desired mission and performance characteristics without the need to purchase specially designed vehicles for each mission. The vehicle can include a mechanisms that magnetically attach and release payloads such as cargo or ballast from the vehicle.

Abstract: The underwater vehicle with variable configuration (1) comprises: a hull (2) consisting of at least four elongated elements (20), mutually articulated by means of joints (21), to form a first closed polygonal structure (F1), arranged on a plane; thrusters (3), associated in parallel with said elements (20) of the hull (2); actuating means (22), associated with said joints (21), provided for automatically modifying said first closed polygonal structure (F1), from an elongated shape configuration (AF1) to an expanded shape (EF1), corresponding to an elongated conformation of said hull (2), to determine a low hydrodynamic resistance and a longitudinal thrust of the thrusters (3) in the cruising of said underwater vehicle (1), and to a substantially isotropic conformation, wherein the same elements (20) of the hull (2), as well as the thrusters (3) are mutually angled, intended for the hovering of the same underwater vehicle (1), respectively.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device carrying platform based on an underwater robot. The device carrying platform comprises a mounting rack and more than two mounting seats. The mounting rack comprises a mounting plate and more than two mounting columns fixed to the bottom of the mounting plate, the mounting plate is provided with a plurality of mounting holes, the mounting plate is hinged with a protective screen, the protective screen is provided with an opening, and the opening is hinged with a screen door. The plurality of mounting seats arranged on the mounting rack can be used for mounting devices and instruments of various models, and a first butting part and a second butting part in a mounting groove are matched with each other, so that devices and instruments needed to be mounted are fixed.