Abstract: A water environment robotic system that includes a control station, an underwater robotic vehicle, and a water-surface robotic vehicle. The underwater robotic vehicle is in communication with the water-surface robotic vehicle and the water-surface robotic vehicle is in communication with the control station. Accordingly, the water-surface robotic vehicle can act as a relay between the control station and the underwater robotic vehicle. The water-surface robotic vehicle is further capable of detecting the position of the underwater vehicle and automatically adjusting the position of the underwater vehicle in order to maintain general vertical alignment between the two vehicles.

Abstract: A deployable docking station for supporting at least one mobile robot is provided. The deployable docking station includes a housing and an anchor connected to the housing. The anchor can engage with a surface to maintain the position of the deployable docking station. The deployable docking station is further configured to couple and decouple with the at least one mobile robot. The deployable docking station can be configured to selectively alternate between a first and second condition. In the first condition, the deployable docking station is coupled with the at least one mobile robot and the at least one mobile robot can transport the deployable docking station to a desired location on the surface. In the second condition, the deployable docking station is de-coupled from the at least one mobile robot.