Abstract: A bathythermograph buoy and an associated method of operation are provided to measure temperature and/or optionally other parameter(s) within an ocean or another body of water. A bathythermograph buoy includes a housing and one or more sensors carried by the housing and configured to repeatedly measure one or more respective parameters as the bathythermograph buoy descends. The bathythermograph buoy of one example also includes a memory carried by the housing and configured to store representations of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors. The bathythermograph buoy further includes a buoyancy modification device configured to increase buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy to permit the bathythermograph buoy to ascend.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aerostat deployable from sonobuoy launch container. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a capsule configured to launch from an aircraft and float in seawater with one or more sonobuoys. The capsule includes a receiver configured to receive sonobuoy data from the one or more sonobuoys, a transmitter configured to transmit the sonobuoy data to the aircraft, a cable configured to power the transmitter via a battery, and a reaction chamber including a reactant and configured to generate a gas from the seawater mixing with the reactant. The capsule also includes an aerostat tethered to the capsule via the cable and configured to inflate with the gas produced by the reaction chamber, and to ascend above the capsule with the transmitter to increase a distance for transmitting the sonobuoy data to the aircraft.

Abstract: A bathythermograph buoy and an associated method of operation are provided to measure temperature and/or optionally other parameter(s) within an ocean or another body of water. A bathythermograph buoy includes a housing and one or more sensors carried by the housing and configured to repeatedly measure one or more respective parameters as the bathythermograph buoy descends. The bathythermograph buoy of one example also includes a memory carried by the housing and configured to store representations of the one or more respective parameters measured by the one or more sensors. The bathythermograph buoy further includes a buoyancy modification device configured to increase buoyancy of the bathythermograph buoy to permit the bathythermograph buoy to ascend.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for aerostat deployable from sonobuoy launch container. One embodiment is an apparatus that includes a capsule configured to launch from an aircraft and float in seawater with one or more sonobuoys. The capsule includes a receiver configured to receive sonobuoy data from the one or more sonobuoys, a transmitter configured to transmit the sonobuoy data to the aircraft, a cable configured to power the transmitter via a battery, and a reaction chamber including a reactant and configured to generate a gas from the seawater mixing with the reactant. The capsule also includes an aerostat tethered to the capsule via the cable and configured to inflate with the gas produced by the reaction chamber, and to ascend above the capsule with the transmitter to increase a distance for transmitting the sonobuoy data to the aircraft.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch system includes a launch container including a housing defining an internal chamber. A UAV includes a main body defining an inflatable envelope. The UAV is configured to be contained within the internal chamber. The main body is in a deflated state when the UAV is contained within the internal chamber. A reactant is configured to react with water to produce a lifting gas. The inflatable envelope is configured to be inflated by the lifting gas in response to the reactant reacting with the water to deploy the UAV from the launch container.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launch system includes a launch container including a housing defining an internal chamber. A UAV includes a main body defining an inflatable envelope. The UAV is configured to be contained within the internal chamber. The main body is in a deflated state when the UAV is contained within the internal chamber. A reactant is configured to react with water to produce a lifting gas. The inflatable envelope is configured to be inflated by the lifting gas in response to the reactant reacting with the water to deploy the UAV from the launch container.