Abstract: A pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. According to one aspect, an underwater vehicle may comprise one or more buoyancy elements, a pressure tolerant cavity, and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more neutrally buoyant battery cells. In some aspects, the battery cells may have an average density that is about equal to the density of the fluid in which the vehicle is immersed. The vehicle may also comprise a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a multi-level battery protection system. In some embodiments, a multi-level battery protection system can include multiple levels at the junction box level and multiple levels at the battery level. In some embodiments, at the junction box level, the multi-level battery protection system can include junction box fuses and a current limiting circuit. In some embodiments, at the battery level, the multi-level battery protection system can include battery fuses and a microprocessor circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a dual-voltage power system. In some aspects, a dual-voltage power system can include a first battery module and a second battery module. In some aspects, the first battery module operates at a first voltage and the second battery module operates at a second voltage. In some aspects, the first battery module delivers power to a plurality of primary systems. In some aspects, the second battery module delivers power to a plurality of parasitic systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for regulating a charging rate of a battery module for an autonomous vehicle. In some aspects, the method comprises measuring a first battery cell temperature using a first temperature sensor located at a first battery cell of a plurality of batter cells in a battery module, determining whether the first battery cell temperature corresponds to a lowest temperature of the plurality of battery cells, determining a first charging rate corresponding to the first battery cell temperature, determining a first charging current and a first charging voltage corresponding to the first charging rate, and adjusting a charging current to the first charging current and a charging voltage to the first charging voltage for the battery module.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for a dual-voltage power system. In some aspects, a dual-voltage power system can include a first battery module and a second battery module. In some aspects, the first battery module operates at a first voltage and the second battery module operates at a second voltage. In some aspects, the first battery module delivers power to a plurality of primary systems. In some aspects, the second battery module delivers power to a plurality of parasitic systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. The pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include releasable storage devices that can surface with data. The devices include data storage, an antenna, battery and means to propel the device to the surface or into the atmosphere. In certain embodiments, it is a USB memory stick, a battery, suitable buoyancy, and an antenna. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein include a rocket to boost the system out of the water to a higher altitude. Once the system is airborne, it can transmit data to a ship or satellite via radio communications, via other line of site methods such as optical, or may be captured by an aircraft such as a UAV.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. The pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include releasable storage devices that can surface with data. The devices include data storage, an antenna, battery and means to propel the device to the surface or into the atmosphere. In certain embodiments, it is a USB memory stick, a battery, suitable buoyancy, and an antenna. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein include a rocket to boost the system out of the water to a higher altitude. Once the system is airborne, it can transmit data to a ship or satellite via radio communications, via other line of site methods such as optical, or may be captured by an aircraft such as a UAV.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include releasable storage devices that can surface with data. The devices include data storage, an antenna, battery and means to propel the device to the surface or into the atmosphere. In certain embodiments, it is a USB memory stick, a battery, suitable buoyancy, and an antenna. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein include a rocket to boost the system out of the water to a higher altitude. Once the system is airborne, it can transmit data to a ship or satellite via radio communications, via other line of site methods such as optical, or may be captured by an aircraft such as a UAV.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adding buoyancy to an object are described herein. A buoyant material may be enclosed inside a flexible container, heated, and inserted into a free flooded cavity inside the object. The flexible container may then be formed to the shape of the cavity. After the flexible container is formed to the shape of the cavity, the flexible container may be cooled. The flexible container may hold a pre-determined amount of the syntactic material that provides a fixed amount of buoyancy. According to another aspect, systems and methods for packing a vehicle are described herein. In some embodiments, a buoyant material may be molded into the shape of a hull of a vehicle, and a plurality of cutouts may be extracted from the buoyant material which are specifically designed to incorporate one or more instruments.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. The pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. The pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for launching, recovering, and handling a large number of vehicles on a ship to enable lower cost ocean survey. In one aspect, the system may include a shipping container based system with an oil services vessel. The vessel may include rolling systems through end to end shipping containers. One or more columns of containers may be accessed using a crane, an A-frame, or any other suitable transportation system. The system may enable the ability to launch or recover more than one vehicle using the launch and recovery system (e.g., AUVs, buoys, seaplanes, autonomous surface vessels, etc.). In one configuration, the system includes a stacking/elevator system to place the vehicles onto a second or higher layer of containers. The system may allow for modularized deployment of the vehicles, launch and recovery system, operation center, and more from self-contained shipping containers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a robust underwater vehicle are described herein. A robust underwater vehicle may include a force-limiting coupler connecting an actuation system to an actuation fin. The force-limiting coupler may be configured to break away from the actuation system upon receiving a threshold force. The robust underwater vehicle may also comprise hull sections connected by a threaded turnbuckle. Carbon-fiber axial strength members may mate with the threaded turnbuckle to pull the hull sections together to a specified preload tension. The robust underwater vehicle may also include a blazed sonar array protected by a carbon fiber bow including a plurality of slits. The plurality of slits may provide significant protection to the sonar array while simultaneously allowing one or more transducers to transmit sonar signals in a two-dimensional plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for launching, recovering, and handling a large number of vehicles on a ship to enable lower cost ocean survey. In one aspect, the system may include a shipping container based system with an oil services vessel. The vessel may include rolling systems through end to end shipping containers. One or more columns of containers may be accessed using a crane, an A-frame, or any other suitable transportation system. The system may enable the ability to launch or recover more than one vehicle using the launch and recovery system (e.g., AUVs, buoys, seaplanes, autonomous surface vessels, etc.). In one configuration, the system includes a stacking/elevator system to place the vehicles onto a second or higher layer of containers. The system may allow for modularized deployment of the vehicles, launch and recovery system, operation center, and more from self-contained shipping containers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a robust underwater vehicle are described herein. A robust underwater vehicle may include a force-limiting coupler connecting an actuation system to an actuation fin. The force-limiting coupler may be configured to break away from the actuation system upon receiving a threshold force. The robust underwater vehicle may also comprise hull sections connected by a threaded turnbuckle. Carbon-fiber axial strength members may mate with the threaded turnbuckle to pull the hull sections together to a specified preload tension. The robust underwater vehicle may also include a blazed sonar array protected by a carbon fiber bow including a plurality of slits. The plurality of slits may provide significant protection to the sonar array while simultaneously allowing one or more transducers to transmit sonar signals in a two-dimensional plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a pressure tolerant energy system. The pressure tolerant energy system may comprise a pressure tolerant cavity and an energy system enclosed in the pressure tolerant cavity configured to provide electrical power to the vehicle. The energy system may include one or more battery cells and a pressure tolerant, programmable management circuit. The pressure tolerant cavity may be filled with an electrically-inert liquid, such as mineral oil. In some embodiments, the electrically-inert liquid may be kept at a positive pressure relative to a pressure external to the pressure tolerant cavity. The energy system may further comprise a pressure venting system configured to maintain the pressure inside the pressure tolerant cavity within a range of pressures. The pressure tolerant cavity may be sealed to prevent water ingress.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for manufacturing a pressure vessel component. The pressure vessel component may be made from a metal that is cast to produce a gross pressure vessel component. Casting the metal may comprise sintering the metal followed by a hot isostatic press (HIP) process. In other embodiments, casting the metal may comprise pouring molten metal into a mold. Portions of the gross pressure vessel component may have an increased thickness located at predetermined positions on the gross pressure vessel component. These portions may include bosses or other designed features intended for the finalized pressure vessel component. The gross pressure vessel may be indexed to select the portions, and these selected portions may then be machined to produce the final pressure vessel component.