Abstract: A percussion controller comprises an instrumented striker including devices for obtaining inertial measurements and a wireless transmitter, a sensor-enabled striking surface that receives an impact from the instrumented striker, and a data processing system that receives the inertial measurements and predicts at least one of the force or location of impact of the instrumented striker on the sensor-enabled striking surface before impact actually occurs.

Abstract: A percussion controller comprises an instrumented striker including devices for obtaining inertial measurements and a wireless transmitter, a sensor-enabled striking surface that receives an impact from the instrumented striker, and a data processing system that receives the inertial measurements and predicts at least one of the force or location of impact of the instrumented striker on the sensor-enabled striking surface before impact actually occurs.

Abstract: A percussion controller comprises an instrumented striker including devices for obtaining inertial measurements and a wireless transmitter, a sensor-enabled striking surface that receives an impact from the instrumented striker, and a data processing system that receives the inertial measurements and predicts at least one of the force or location of impact of the instrumented striker on the sensor-enabled striking surface before impact actually occurs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recovering manganese nodules from the seabed are disclosed. A buoyant body is generated by freezing water, forming a clathrate ice, or using a liquid that is less dense than seawater. Nodules that have been collected from the seabed are incorporated into or otherwise coupled to the buoyant body. The buoyant body is then released to make a free or tethered ascent to the surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to enclosure assemblies housing at least one electronic board assembly and systems (e.g., missiles or unmanned vehicles) that may employ such enclosure assemblies. In an embodiment, an enclosure assembly includes an enclosure having an interior surface defining an interior space and an inner diameter. At least one electronic board assembly is positioned within the interior space and includes a first peripheral edge region and an opposing second peripheral edge region. The electronic board assembly extends diametrically so that the first and second peripheral edge regions are at least proximate to the interior surface. In another embodiment, a plurality of electronic board assemblies are positioned within the interior space and each extends generally along a respective non-diametric chord defined by the interior surface.

Abstract: A method for extracting fuel gases from an underwater plume emitted from an underwater hydrothermal vent includes the step of collecting via an underwater fluid collector an underwater plume emitted from the hydrothermal vent. The underwater plume includes methane and hydrogen. The method further includes a step of directing a first fluid containing the underwater plume into a first inlet of a first underwater heat exchanger and a second fluid into a second inlet of the first underwater heat exchanger. The second fluid at the second inlet is at a temperature sufficiently lower than the temperature of the first fluid to transfer sufficient heat therebetween to form methane hydrate and hydrogen-methane hydrate in the first fluid. The method further includes the step of conveying the methane hydrate and hydrogen-methane hydrate to the surface of the water body via a duct connected to a first outlet of the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A percussion controller comprises an instrumented striker including devices for obtaining inertial measurements and a wireless transmitter, a sensor-enabled striking surface that receives an impact from the instrumented striker, and a data processing system that receives the inertial measurements and predicts at least one of the force or location of impact of the instrumented striker on the sensor-enabled striking surface before impact actually occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing and a ballast disposed within the housing. The ballast is adapted to receive, store and expel a fluid. A bladder is operatively coupled to the ballast wherein an increase in the volume of the bladder causes a decrease in the free volume of the ballast available for the storage of the fluid therewithin and a decrease in the volume of the bladder causes an increase in the free volume of the ballast available for the storage of the fluid therewithin. A heat exchanger has a heat exchange duct thermally coupled to the bladder and is adapted to receive a fluid from outside the housing. The bladder is configured to receive a clathrate.

Abstract: A power generation system that comprises a first power generator; a first turbine operable to drive the first power generator; a vaporizer operable to vaporize a working fluid, wherein the vaporized working fluid turns the first turbine; and a condenser operable to condense the vaporized working fluid exiting the first turbine, wherein the condenser is coupled to the vaporizer such that the condensed working fluid is vaporized in the vaporizer. The power generation system also comprises a second power generator; a second turbine operable to burn a fuel to drive the second power generator; a switch to selectively operate the second turbine independently of the first turbine; and a heat exchanger coupled to the second turbine to receive flue gas from the second turbine when operated, wherein heat is transferred in the heat exchanger from the flue gas to the vaporized working fluid after the vaporized working fluid exits the vaporizer and prior to the vaporized working fluid entering the first turbine.

Abstract: A pipeline accelerator includes a bus and a plurality of pipeline units, each unit coupled to the bus and including at least one respective hardwired-pipeline circuit. By including a plurality of pipeline units in the pipeline accelerator, one can increase the accelerator's data-processing performance as compared to a single-pipeline-unit accelerator. Furthermore, by designing the pipeline units so that they communicate via a common bus, one can alter the number of pipeline units, and thus alter the configuration and functionality of the accelerator, by merely coupling or uncoupling pipeline units to or from the bus. This eliminates the need to design or redesign the pipeline-unit interfaces each time one alters one of the pipeline units or alters the number of pipeline units within the accelerator.

Abstract: A resonant, contactless, RF power coupling suitable for high power-density applications and for use in an ocean environment is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the power coupling includes a transmit coupling and a receive coupling, each of which include a resonant element. A high-powered RF generator is coupled to the transmit coupling and a rectifier circuit is coupled to the output coupling. Each of the resonant elements is disposed in its own electrically-conductive canister and advantageously potted in an appropriate insulating dielectric. Each canister has an open end to facilitate inductive coupling between the two resonant elements. In order to exclude seawater from the interface between the canisters, a seal of compliant material is disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle includes systems for harvesting ambient hydrostatic pressure and storing the same as a gas pressure in a compressed gas system and as a water pressure in a pressurized electrolysis system. The gas pressure is used to perform mechanical work or to generate electrical power via a prime mover. The water pressure is used to release pressurized hydrogen and oxygen gases via electrolysis. The pressurized hydrogen and oxygen gases are used in a combustion chamber to generate propulsion power for the underwater vehicle.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to electronics modules, enclosure assemblies housing at least one such electronics module, and systems (e.g., missiles or unmanned vehicles) that may employ such enclosure assemblies. In one embodiment, an electronics module includes a first plate extending generally in a first plane, and a second plate spaced from the first plate and extending generally in a second plane. The electronics module further includes a plurality of electronic board assemblies each of which extends generally in a respective plane and is in thermal communication with at least one of the first and second plates. Each electronic board assembly may be positioned between the first and second plates and oriented so that the respective plane thereof is non-parallel relative to the first and second planes.

Abstract: An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system comprising a self-contained submersible OTEC plant is disclosed. The OTEC plant comprises a electrical generation system and a thermal mass whose temperature is based on the temperature of water at a first depth of a body of water. The OTEC plant is moved to a second depth of the body of water, wherein water at the second depth is a different temperature that the water at the first depth. The OTEC system generates electrical energy based on a difference in the temperatures of the water at the second depth and the temperature of the thermal mass. The OTEC system is able to generate electrical energy at either of the first depth and the second depth.

Abstract: A water navigable vessel or glider can transport cargo across oceans and other bodies of water without the use of fossil or nuclear fuels. The vessel includes a housing, a cargo or payload area within the housing, one or more control fins attached to the housing, a ballast within the housing, an expandable and contractible container configured to receive a clathrate and maintain a minimum amount of pressure on the clathrate within the housing in proximity to the ballast, and an intake valve coupled to the ballast. The clathrate changes state, thereby changing the buoyancy of the glider, and causing the glider to move through the body of water.

Abstract: An Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) system is disclosed. The OTEC system generates electrical energy based on a difference in the temperatures of the water from a surface region of a body of water and a thermal mass whose temperature is based on the temperature of water from a deep water region of the body of water. The thermal mass attains a desired temperature while it is positioned in the deep water region, with which it is thermally coupled. The present invention uses a bulk transport vessel to carry the thermal mass from the deep water region to a depth where it can be thermally coupled with the OTEC system.

Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus includes a communication circuit and a transducer array coupled to the communication circuit. The communication circuit is operable to generate first and second information signals, and the transducer array is operable to generate in response to the first information signal a first sonar signal having a first frequency, and to generate in response to the second information signal a second sonar signal having a second frequency. The transducer array may generate the first and second sonar signals simultaneously to increase the transmission bandwidth. Where such an apparatus is a buoy, then the buoy may relay signals from an above-surface vessel to an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), and may relay signals from the UUV to the vessel. Therefore, the buoy allows the vessel to control the UUV without a cable linking the buoy and the vessel, and thus allows one to eliminate such a cable.

Abstract: A water navigable vessel or glider can transport cargo across oceans and other bodies of water without the use of fossil or nuclear fuels. The vessel includes a housing, a cargo or payload area within the housing, one or more control fins attached to the housing, a ballast within the housing, an expandable and contractible container configured to receive a clathrate and maintain a minimum amount of pressure on the clathrate within the housing in proximity to the ballast, and an intake valve coupled to the ballast. The clathrate changes state, thereby changing the buoyancy of the glider, and causing the glider to move through the body of water.

Abstract: An underwater vehicle comprising an electrical power generation system that converts thermal energy from a body of water into electrical energy is disclosed. The vehicle comprises the electrical power generation system and a thermal mass whose temperature is based on the temperature of water at a first depth of a body of water. The vehicle is moved to a second depth of the body of water, wherein water at the second depth is a different temperature that the water at the first depth. The electrical power generation system generates electrical energy based on the difference between the temperature of the water at the second depth and the temperature of the thermal mass. The electrical power generation system is able to generate electrical energy when the temperature difference is negative as well as when the temperature difference is positive.

Abstract: A ballistic-acoustic transducer system includes a processor and one or more acoustic sensors. The sensors are positioned in a body of water and are in communication with the processor. The system is configured such that acoustic energy generated by a non-explosive projectile as it impacts the water, enters the water, and sinks through the water, is sensed by the one or more acoustic sensors, and the processor is configured to process the acoustic energy sensed by the one or more acoustic sensors.