Abstract: An underwater connection system and methods can include a male connector having a proximal end and a distal end and a female connector having a proximal end and a distal end. At least one of the male connector or the female connector can have an increasing taper when viewed in top plan, from a minimum width at its distal end to a maximum width at its proximal end. To do this, the male or female connector can be formed with a surrounding rubber housing. The rubber housing can be formed with a wedge that is integral to the rubber housing to establish the increasing taper. The taper can be linear or curved, according to the needs of the user, and either or the male connector or female connector can be inline or right-angle connectors, according to the system design and space constraints.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an apparatus for use in the recovery of unmanned underwater vehicles includes a recovery vehicle configured to be coupled to a winch via a tether. The recovery vehicle includes one or more sensors for locating the unmanned underwater vehicle, a first mechanical linking device for coupling the recovery vehicle to the unmanned underwater vehicle, and a plurality of steering mechanisms for actively guiding the unmanned underwater vehicle in such a way as to allow the first mechanical linking device to capture the unmanned underwater vehicle by locking onto a second mechanical linking device of the unmanned underwater vehicle.

Abstract: A cooling system for rejecting waste heat consists of a cooling tower incorporating a plurality of coolant tubes provided with cooling fins and each having a plurality of cooling channels therein, means for directing a heat exchange fluid from the power plant through less than the total number of cooling channels to cool the heat exchange fluid under normal ambient temperature conditions, means for directing water through the remaining cooling channels whenever the ambient temperature rises above the temperature at which dry cooling of the heat exchange fluid is sufficient and means for cooling the water.