Woods Hole Oceanographic' Institution

Jeffrey Kaeli

Robin Littlefield

Frederic Jaffre

Thomas Austin

Michael Purcell

Michael Jakuba

Brian Guest

Ben Allen

A stowable generator device including a housing defining at least one storage chamber having an opening. A closure element is configured to selectively cover and uncover the opening. Support structure is disposed within the storage chamber in a collapsed position and is selectively extendable through the opening into an expanded position when the closure element is moved away from the opening. At least one energy generating unit is connected to the support structure. The support structure and the generating unit are configured to reversibly stow inside the housing in the collapsed position.

Stowable power generator device

A rotational feedback control system, and method of using same, including a rotating element, a sensor and a digital controller. The system capable of monitoring, setting, and adjusting the inter-rotational angular velocity within a single revolution of the rotating element. The digital controller implementing a control system with control parameters based on angular position, nominal angular velocity and steering angular velocity.

Rotational feedback control system and method

A passive ballast device, system and method of using same, configured for use with a submersible vehicle in a liquid environment, including a chamber having at least one rigid wall to define at least a portion of a chamber volume, and a passively movable compensator having at least first and second surfaces, the first surface configured to be exposed to the liquid environment, the second surface excluded from the liquid environment, and forming, together with the at least one wall of the chamber, a fluid-tight seal to establish the remainder of the chamber volume, to exclude the liquid environment from the chamber volume and configured to adjust the chamber volume to at least a first chamber volume and a second chamber volume. The chamber volume is configured to establish at least a first buoyancy and second buoyancy, the compensator is configured to respond to a change in environmental pressure within the liquid environment, and the compensator is passively moved by the change in environmental pressure to change the first chamber volume to the second chamber volume, thereby changing from the first buoyancy to the second buoyancy.

Passive ballast device, system and methods of using same

An asymmetric propulsion mechanism capable of providing both axial thrust as well as lateral maneuverability from a single axis of rotation is described. The mechanism may be used on aquatic vehicles to minimize cost and maximize reliability and endurance. The mechanism comprises one or more propeller blades disposed asymmetrically around a rotating hub under the guidance of a control system including a motor capable of driving the propeller at various radial speeds throughout the course of a single revolution.

Growing community of inventors

Woods Hole, MA, United States of America

Jeffrey Kaeli