Abstract: A swarm communication system. Each of a plurality of transceivers determines a transmission cycle duration, and transmits one packet per transmission cycle, each packet being transmitted at a random point in time within the transmission cycle. The duration of the transmission cycle of a first transceiver may be adjusted according to the number of other transceivers within range of the first transceiver, or according to the number of other transmitters within range of each of the other transmitters that are within range of the first transceiver.

Abstract: A swarm communication system. Each of a plurality of transceivers determines a transmission cycle duration, and transmits one packet per transmission cycle, each packet being transmitted at a random point in time within the transmission cycle. The duration of the transmission cycle of a first transceiver may be adjusted according to the number of other transceivers within range of the first transceiver, or according to the number of other transmitters within range of each of the other transmitters that are within range of the first transceiver.

Abstract: A swarm communication system. Each of a plurality of transceivers determines a transmission cycle duration, and transmits one packet per transmission cycle, each packet being transmitted at a random point in time within the transmission cycle. The duration of the transmission cycle of a first transceiver may be adjusted according to the number of other transceivers within range of the first transceiver, or according to the number of other transmitters within range of each of the other transmitters that are within range of the first transceiver.

Abstract: A swarm communication system. Each of a plurality of transceivers determines a transmission cycle duration, and transmits one packet per transmission cycle, each packet being transmitted at a random point in time within the transmission cycle. The duration of the transmission cycle of a first transceiver may be adjusted according to the number of other transceivers within range of the first transceiver, or according to the number of other transmitters within range of each of the other transmitters that are within range of the first transceiver.

Abstract: A method and system for automated air traffic management of unmanned vehicles that assures safety and continuous flow, even for vehicles of wide-ranging capabilities. Some embodiments include onboard equipment that distributes the burden of management across all the vehicles in a given airspace so that autonomous cooperation between vehicles creates useful group-level behavior. Vehicles carry definitions of rules of interaction on shared flyways. In conjunction with a means of exchanging location and velocity information with close neighbors, onboard algorithms calculate complementary navigation vectors that inform each vehicle's autopilot of a cooperative trajectory. The collective result of individual, autonomous decisions is cooperation at a group scale that manages traffic features such as density and spacing without the need for a ground-based communication infrastructure.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an artificial topography in a distributed array of robotic agents. Each robotic agent stores, and periodically updates a parameter value or “A-value” in accordance with a process including, e.g., averaging neighboring A-values, received from close neighbor robotic agents, biasing the A-value based on external commands or measured environmental parameters, and decreasing the A-value by a cooling rate factor. Averaging among neighboring robotic agents results eventually in a globally smoothed distribution of A-values. A gradient may be estimated for the distribution of A-values, and the robotic agents may be programmed to move in the direction of the gradient, toward increasing A-values. This behavior may be employed to cause the robotic agents to follow a robotic agent with a fixed, relatively large, A-value, or, if the A-values are biased by features (e.g., gradients or steps) in environmental parameters, to converge on such features.

Abstract: A method and system for automated air traffic management of unmanned vehicles that assures safety and continuous flow, even for vehicles of wide-ranging capabilities. Some embodiments include onboard equipment that distributes the burden of management across all the vehicles in a given airspace so that autonomous cooperation between vehicles creates useful group-level behavior. Vehicles carry definitions of rules of interaction on shared flyways. In conjunction with a means of exchanging location and velocity information with close neighbors, onboard algorithms calculate complementary navigation vectors that inform each vehicle's autopilot of a cooperative trajectory. The collective result of individual, autonomous decisions is cooperation at a group scale that manages traffic features such as density and spacing without the need for a ground-based communication infrastructure.

Abstract: A water drone capable of navigating on the surface, or below the surface, of a body of water. In some embodiments such a vehicle is light-weight, electric-powered, and propeller-driven, and may be operated by remote control from the shore and guided with simple autopilot commands. The vehicle may have two actuators at the rear of the vehicle, each including a motor and a propeller, and each capable of producing forward or reverse thrust. The vehicle may be capable of travelling horizontally through the surf zone and diving vertically through the water column to the seafloor. The vehicle may monitor its own location and depth and may measure environmental conditions such as water temperature; such measurements may be communicated back to the operator using a telemetry system.

Abstract: A swarm communication system. Each of a plurality of transceivers determines a transmission cycle duration, and transmits one packet per transmission cycle, each packet being transmitted at a random point in time within the transmission cycle. The duration of the transmission cycle of a first transceiver may be adjusted according to the number of other transceivers within range of the first transceiver, or according to the number of other transmitters within range of each of the other transmitters that are within range of the first transceiver.

Abstract: A variable frontal area craft for performing drift measurements. The craft includes a variable frontal area mechanism and a propulsion assembly, and is configured to operate at least partially submerged in a liquid. The variable frontal area mechanism is configured to operate in a first, high frontal area state and in a second, low frontal area state.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an artificial topography in a distributed array of robotic agents. Each robotic agent stores, and periodically updates a parameter value or “A-value” in accordance with a process including, e.g., averaging neighboring A-values, received from close neighbor robotic agents, biasing the A-value based on external commands or measured environmental parameters, and decreasing the A-value by a cooling rate factor. Averaging among neighboring robotic agents results eventually in a globally smoothed distribution of A-values. A gradient may be estimated for the distribution of A-values, and the robotic agents may be programmed to move in the direction of the gradient, toward increasing A-values. This behavior may be employed to cause the robotic agents to follow a robotic agent with a fixed, relatively large, A-value, or, if the A-values are biased by features (e.g., gradients or steps) in environmental parameters, to converge on such features.

Abstract: A water drone capable of navigating on the surface, or below the surface, of a body of water. In some embodiments such a vehicle is light-weight, electric-powered, and propeller-driven, and may be operated by remote control from the shore and guided with simple autopilot commands. The vehicle may have two actuators at the rear of the vehicle, each including a motor and a propeller, and each capable of producing forward or reverse thrust. The vehicle may be capable of travelling horizontally through the surf zone and diving vertically through the water column to the seafloor. The vehicle may monitor its own location and depth and may measure environmental conditions such as water temperature; such measurements may be communicated back to the operator using a telemetry system.

Abstract: A charging system detachably drawing from a power source comprising: (a) an electrical output configuration; (b) an electrical input configuration; and (c) an energy store configuration; and methods of provisioning the energy store, the charging system, and electric vehicle charger devices.

Abstract: A system and method for characterizing fluid flow. A plurality of craft is deployed on the surface of the fluid, each of the craft configured to operate in either a fluid-transiting state or a fluid-tracking state. The craft are further configured, when a spatial arrangement of the craft satisfies a first condition, to execute a regrouping maneuver. The execution of the regrouping maneuver includes a first craft of the plurality of craft transitioning from the fluid-tracking state to the fluid-transiting state; the first craft changing its position; and the first craft transitioning from the fluid-transiting state to the fluid-tracking state.

Abstract: A variable frontal area craft for performing drift measurements. The craft includes a variable frontal area mechanism and a propulsion assembly, and is configured to operate at least partially submerged in a liquid. The variable frontal area mechanism is configured to operate in a first, high frontal area state and in a second, low frontal area state.

Abstract: A vehicle having a wing, a forward propeller configured for forward flight, and an aft propeller configured for submerged travel in a rearward direction. The vehicle center of mass is aft of its floating center of buoyancy, and center of mass and the floating center of buoyancy lie between the first and second propellers. The vehicle has a natural floating orientation in which the vehicle, while floating, has its first propeller located in the air and positioned for initiating airborne flight in a forward direction, and in which the vehicle has its second propeller located in the liquid and positioned for initiating submerged travel in a rearward direction.

Abstract: A series of helical Savonius turbine generators for use in the ocean, each turbine generator being an independent system, but all sharing a common mooring/bus-bar cable. An anchor connects one generator to the ocean floor, and a buoyancy device system buoys the turbines so that they can generate power from passing currents. The generators are coreless, and generate electrical or hydraulic power. The turbine blades rotate on bearings that are lubricated with ambient water. A control system separately tracks the power generation level of each turbine, and controls the buoyancy of the buoyancy device system.

Abstract: A charging system detachably drawing from a power source comprising: (a) an electrical output configuration; (b) an electrical input configuration; and (c) an energy store configuration; and methods of provisioning the energy store, the charging system, and electric vehicle charger devices.

Abstract: A charging system detachably drawing from a power source comprising: (a) an electrical output configuration; (b) an electrical input configuration; and (c) an energy store configuration; and methods of provisioning the energy store, the charging system, and electric vehicle charger devices.

Abstract: Wind turbine assembly, and related method, is provided that exploits an aerodynamically enhanced wind region of a building in proximity to a parapet of the building. A wind turbine assembly includes a support assembly configured to couple to a building in proximity to a parapet of the building and a rotor assembly coupled to the support assembly such that its rotor is oriented relative to the enhanced wind region to optimize electrical generation.