Woods Hole Oceanographic' Institution

Other

Robin Littlefield

Frederic Jaffre

Thomas Austin

Jeffrey Kaeli

Michael Purcell

Glenn Elwin McDonald

Gwyneth Packard

Amy L Kukulya

Brian Guest

Ben Allen

Michael Jakuba

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 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

The present invention involves a system for the release of low relief, self-orienting deployable payloads from a platform such as a submersible vehicle and a mechanism of passive buoyancy compensation of the vehicle. The system secures one or more payloads by a vacuum force without an additional mechanical restraining mechanism and deployment of a payload is accomplished by disengaging the vacuum hold to release the payload for its intended function. Once deployed, the payload may reorient itself to a functional orientation without additional assistance.

System for the deployment of marine payloads

A submersible tag device configured to operate within a liquid medium, including a liquid-tight housing defining a chamber that remains isolated from the liquid medium when the housing is immersed in the liquid medium, and an attachment mechanism configured to attach to a target selected by a user. A communication module is disposed in the chamber, the module including a receiver, a controller configured to receive input from the receiver, a power source operatively connected to at least the controller, and data storage. When the tag device is immersed in the liquid medium, the receiver is configured to receive a command signal through the liquid medium.

System and method for autonomous tracking and imaging of a target

The present invention involves a system for the release of low relief, self-orienting deployable payloads from a platform such as an underwater vehicle and a mechanism of passive buoyancy compensation of the vehicle. The system secures one or more payloads by a vacuum force without an additional mechanical restraining mechanism and deployment of a payload is accomplished by disengaging the vacuum hold to release the payload for its intended function. Once deployed, the payload may reorient itself to a functional orientation without additional assistance.

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

Falmouth, MA, United States of America

Robin Littlefield