Abstract: A submersible vessel is described, having a hybrid buoyancy system composed of a ballast tank and a buoyancy engine. The ballast tank provides for large changes in buoyancy of the vessel, while the buoyancy engine provides small changes. Use of the ballast tank in the buoyancy engine in combination achieves buoyancy control that cannot be achieved by using a ballast tank or a buoyancy engine alone. The combined use of a ballast tank and buoyancy engine allows a submersible vessel to fully float on a water surface, maintain a swamped state just beneath the water surface and additionally dive beneath the water surface and maintain a desired depth.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to system, method and apparatus for controlling the speed of a sailing vessel. The speed of a sailing vessel is controlled by varying a force of a cam follower against a perimeter of a cam mounted to either a rotatable mast, or a rotatable sleeve concentrically mounted to a fixed mast, of the sailing vessel. In some embodiments, an onboard control unit determines conditions such as vessel speed, weather conditions, threats, etc. and automatically causes a sailing vessel to achieve predetermined vessel speeds based on the determined conditions.

Abstract: A novel two-way splitter having reduced distance between outlets, while enabling smooth, efficient fluid flow (e.g., water flow) is provided. In a variant, the splitter includes a first pipe and a second pipe meeting at an interface near the inlet and extending away from the inlet, wherein portions of the first pipe and the second pipe proximal to the inlet are substantially helical and are intertwined with each other. In another variant, the first and second pipes have first portions proximal to the inlet which extend vertically side by side away from the inlet, such that the width of each first portion decreases and the depth of each first portion increases as a vertical distance from the inlet increases.