Cartridge ejection module for locating objects lost at sea and associated ejection system

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge (200) ejection module (100) for locating objects (1000) that have sunk into the sea, comprising a protective casing (101) making said module waterproof, comprising: at least two cartridges (200) each comprising a floating element (201) of lower density than that of water and visible on the surface of the water when released from the cartridge, and a cartridge (200) release system (300) configured to release said cartridges (200) and the floating element (201) contained in each cartridge (200) into the sea when it receives a release order, a computer (103) configured to transmit a cartridge release order at a predefined time interval to the release system, each floating element contained in each of the cartridges being, once released into the sea, distinguishable from the other floating elements by the naked eye. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Cartridge ejection module for locating objects lost at sea and associated ejection system TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention is that of locating submerged objects lost at sea. An object can be a means of transport such as an airplane, a sailboat, or even a submarine. It can also be containers transported by cargo ships.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to devices releasing indicators for locating a submerged object.

[0003] The invention finds applications in particular in the fields of aeronautics, maritime and submarine transport. STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Techniques for releasing tracers in search or rescue situations for aircraft that have sunk at sea are known from the prior art. The tracers may be location elements, or else fluorescent and floating powders or inks. These tracers can thus be located by rescue or search teams on boats, or using images from satellites or aircraft flying over an area where the aircraft has had a problem and lost contact with the control centers.

[0005] Some devices have submersible cartridges held in a container, which, once released, rise to the surface and release the locating element. When a single cartridge is released, it only gives a very limited number of clues on the position of the aircraft which has sunk at sea. Only a position of the powder on the surface of the sea is obtained.

[0006] From this information alone, it remains very complicated to know precisely where the wreck of the aircraft is located. Indeed, the currents, the depth of the sea at the site of the sinking, the atmospheric conditions are all factors which will impact the trajectory and the dispersion of the powder contained for example in the drifting cartridges.

[0007] Solutions have been devised by releasing powders of three different colors into a container configured to release the powder at different predefined depths. Here again, the information obtained by the release of the powders is still limited and is not necessarily adapted to each configuration. Indeed, if the aircraft sinks in a shallow area, there will only be one powder released, and therefore, not enough information to find the wreck quickly.

[0008] Furthermore, there is no time indication of when the sinking occurred. Thus, Having only one powder on the surface can mean that the sinking took place in a location with a depth lower than that for which the second container was configured to release the powder, or that the aircraft was still sinking and had not reached the release depth of the second container. It may then be necessary to cross-reference a large amount of information from several sources (seabed map, satellite images over several hours of the location of the powder, aircraft flight plan, etc.) to estimate the true position of the aircraft, which represents a difficulty in finding a wreck as quickly and simply as possible. In addition, this type of device must be adjusted and packaged in the factory. It cannot be easily set up and configured for each situation.

[0009] Furthermore, these devices are suitable for aircraft only, whereas other means of transport or storage may also be subject to sinking, such as a submarine, a boat, or even a container transported on a cargo ship.

[0010] There is no universal system, which is suitable for use in various means of transport or storage and which allows a device or object which has sunk at sea to be located quickly and reliably. Statement of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art cited above.

[0012] The invention relates to a cartridge ejection module for locating objects that have sunk at sea, comprising a protective casing making said module waterproof.

[0013] The ejection module comprises at least two cartridges each comprising a supernatant element of lower density than that of water and visible on the surface of the water when it is released from the cartridge, and a cartridge release system configured to release said cartridges and the supernatant element included in each cartridge into the sea when it receives a release order.

[0014] Furthermore, the ejection module comprises a computer configured to transmit a cartridge release order at a predefined time interval to the release system.

[0015] The invention advantageously makes it possible to estimate the trajectory in the water of an object that has sunk at sea, such as an aircraft, a boat or even a container. Thus, the invention makes it possible to simplify the location of said object. This therefore allows, depending on the nature of the submerged object, the rescue team to arrive more quickly on the scene and to maximize the chances of rescue. In addition, the invention makes it possible to quickly locate particularly polluting elements of objects that have sunk. at sea, and therefore, to be able to extract them from the sea while limiting their impact on the environment.

[0016] In addition, the release of each supernatant element is carried out at a predefined time interval: this characteristic makes it possible to estimate the moment at which the object sank.

[0017] In a particular embodiment, at least two supernatant elements each included in a cartridge are, once released into the sea, distinguishable from one another with the naked eye.

[0018] This advantageously makes it possible to give a temporal indication of the trajectory followed by the object in the sea when it sank.

[0019] In a particular embodiment, the protective casing of the ejection module comprises an outer protective shell and an inner retaining layer.

[0020] This makes it possible to protect the ejection module when it is subjected to high forces. This makes it possible, for example, to guarantee the integrity of the ejection module in the context of an aircraft crash at sea, for example, where very high forces can be applied to the structure, and therefore to the ejection module.

[0021] Advantageously, the ejection module has the shape of a right circular cylinder, in which the cartridges are arranged in a radial configuration, with a regular distribution around the axis of the module.

[0022] This feature is particularly advantageous because it facilitates the extraction of the cartridges from the ejection module and it allows a homogeneous distribution of the mass within the ejection module. This arrangement is also particularly ergonomic. It makes it possible to reinforce the reliability of the module because if it were to be damaged in one place, that is to say if certain cartridges could no longer release the supernatant elements, the ejection module allows the ejection of the other cartridges, positioned in another place, undamaged.

[0023] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, each cartridge comprises a piston comprising a first end of a beveled shape towards the axis of the module and a second end of a pointed shape towards the outside of the ejection module making it possible to pierce a seal on an outer end of the cartridge to release the supernatant element included in the cartridge when the piston is moving along an axis along said cartridge, the release system comprises a stepper motor positioned on the axis of the ejection module connected to an arm comprising a beveled end making it possible to set said piston in motion when said stepper motor is in motion.

[0024] This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it allows the supernatant element to be released reliably and simply from the cartridges, with very low energy consumption.

[0025] Advantageously, the supernatant element comprises particles capable of reflecting the light.

[0026] This makes it easier to locate the supernatant elements with the naked eye when they are illuminated, by natural light such as the sun in broad daylight, or by artificial light in the middle of the night for example.

[0027] In a particular embodiment, the ejection device comprises at least three cartridges and the cartridge release system is configured to release the supernatant elements from the cartridges at regular time intervals.

[0028] It is then possible, in this embodiment, to estimate more precisely the trajectory followed by the object which has sunk into the sea.

[0029] Advantageously, the ejection device comprises a communication device configured to send and receive information from an application.

[0030] This allows a certified operator to modify and update certain parameters such as an ejection delay between two cartridges, a predefined time after a module release moment or an ejection depth, without having to open the ejection device, using an application.

[0031] The invention also relates to an ejection system comprising at least one ejection module and at least one ejection support. The support comprises two configurations, a first support configuration in which the ejection support supports the ejection module and an ejection configuration, in which the ejection support ejects the ejection module.

[0032] This system is particularly advantageous because when the ejection support is in the ejection configuration, the module is thus ejected into the water and can then release the supernatant elements reliably, that is to say without them being blocked by elements of the object for example.

[0033] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, at least two supernatant elements each included in a cartridge are, once released into the sea, distinguishable from one another with the naked eye.

[0034] This embodiment is particularly advantageous, because each supernatant element, contained in two cartridges, whether or not they are in the same ejection module, is differentiable from one another, therefore making it possible to follow the evolution of the trajectory of the object in the sea when it has sunk.

[0035] Alternatively or in addition, the ejection system comprises several ejection modules and one ejection support per ejection module, each ejection support being configured to eject an ejection module at a predefined depth, or at a predefined time, the supernatant elements included in the cartridges of the same ejection module being, once released into the sea, distinguishable to the naked eye from the supernatant elements released into the sea coming from the cartridges of the other ejection modules.

[0036] Alternatively or in addition, the supernatant elements included in the cartridges of the same ejection module have parameters a*, b*, L* located in a predefined interval in the L*a*b* CIE 1976 chromatic space, CIE being the acronym for the International Commission on Illumination.

[0037] This advantageously makes it possible to better distinguish the supernatant elements coming from the different ejection modules, and therefore to estimate even more precisely the trajectory followed by the object and to estimate how long the object has been sinking at sea and at what angle of fall.

[0038] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the ejection system is configured to be positioned on an object presenting a risk of loss at sea.

[0039] This embodiment makes it possible to have the same universal ejection system for a very varied set of objects, such as a boat, an airplane, a container or a submarine.

[0040] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ejection support comprises an ejection mechanism configured to eject the ejection module when a value from a state sensor of the object is greater than a given threshold, representing abnormal behavior of the object.

[0041] This embodiment allows the ejection module to be ejected autonomously when the object encounters a problem, for example a structural one. This allows the ejection module to be released only when needed, and quickly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0042] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the devices and methods which are the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: • [Fig.l] is an exploded view of a cartridge ejection device according to one embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.2] is a partial perspective view of the ejection device according to the same embodiment shown in [Fig.l]; • [Fig.3] is a partial top view of part of the ejection device according to the same embodiment shown in [Fig.l]; • [Fig.4] is a detail view of the ejection device as it is positioned on an aircraft according to one embodiment of the invention; • [Fig.5] is a view of an assembly of three ejection devices; • [Fig.6] is a schematic view of the release of the ejection system including three ejection devices.

[0043] It should be noted, from now on, that the figures are not to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Example of a particular embodiment

[0044] [Fig. 1] represents an ejection module 100 for cartridges 200 according to the invention. The invention aims to locate objects that have sunk at sea, in particular aircraft and more particularly airliners. [Fig. 4] represents an example of an apparatus 1000.

[0045] Sinking at sea means that objects fail to function properly and sink below the surface of the water in the sea, in the ocean, or in a volume of water that can reach a depth of more than 10 meters.

[0046] The objects may be, but are not limited to, means of transport such as aircraft. These may be airplanes, microlights, or aerial drones flying over maritime areas.

[0047] These can be vessels, such as pleasure craft, cruise ships, sailboats, motorboats or cargo ships. The objects can also be submarines. In this case, it can be considered that a submarine that has sunk at sea is a submarine that has significant technical failures, preventing it from returning to the surface safely.

[0048] The objects may also be containers transported on cargo ships, or any other item transported on or above a water surface for which it may be important to track and secure the route, for example, containers transporting chemical compounds or hazardous materials.

[0049] The ejection module 100 comprises a protective casing 101, a power supply 102, a computer 103, cartridges 200, as well as a system for releasing said cartridges 300. The ejection module 100, according to the embodiment example of [Fig.l] is a right circular cylinder of axis A. This axis A is called “axis of the ejection module”.

[0050] The protective casing 101 is configured to make the ejection module 100 waterproof. It may comprise two elements, an outer protective shell 101a and an inner retaining layer 101b.

[0051] The outer protective shell 101a comprises polyethylene. It thus protects the ejection module 100 against impacts.

[0052] The inner retaining layer 101b comprises polyurethane foam. It protects in particular the power supply 102, the computer 103, the cartridges 200 as well as the cartridge release system 300 from unusual environmental conditions. Indeed, the ejection module 100 is intended to be used when the objects are subjected to unusual forces. It is important that the ejection module 100 is not damaged by these unusual forces. In addition, the inner retaining layer 101b is configured to hold different elements making up the ejection module and limit their movements relative to each other.

[0053] The power supply 102 may for example comprise a battery. In order to ensure better operation and protect against battery failure, the power supply 102 may comprise two batteries 102a and 102b. This redundancy can thus reinforce the robustness of the ejection module 100.

[0054] The power supply 102 is configured to power the computer 103 and the cartridge release system 300. For this, it can be connected to the computer 103 and to the cartridge release system 300 conventionally by cables.

[0055] The computer 103 may be an electronic card, with a printed circuit. To further reinforce the robustness of the ejection module 100, the computer 103 may comprise two electronic cards, a first main card 103a and a second so-called backup card 103b.

[0056] The computer 103 is configured to order the release of the cartridges 200 at a predefined time interval. To do this, it transmits a release order to the cartridge release system 300.

[0057] The cartridge release system 300 is configured to release the cartridges 200 from the ejection module 100 and the contents of each cartridge 200 into the sea when a release command is transmitted to it.

[0058] Each cartridge 200 comprises a supernatant element 201, having a lower density than water, so as to rise and be visible on the surface of the sea when it is released from the cartridge 200.

[0059] The supernatant element 201 may be an ink of a color determined by cartridge. The cartridges 200 then comprise inks of different colors, one per cartridge.

[0060] The supernatant elements 201 are advantageously of different colors so that, once released into the sea, they can be distinguished from one another with the naked eye. For this purpose, the supernatant elements have low chemical miscibility so as not to mix with each other.

[0061] Preferably, the supernatant elements 201 do not contain any compound that can alter the marine ecosystem.

[0062] Thus, an observer, depending on the position of the different inks, can reconstruct the trajectory of the object 1000 throughout its sinking. More precisely, he sees, on the surface, inks of different colors, which have been dispersed at predefined time intervals and which float close to the vertical of their ejection. The cartridges 200 are configured to be released in a given order, associated with a color code of the supernatant elements 201 predefined and known.

[0063] Thus, the observer can both estimate the geographical location of the shipwreck at using the first element, the time of the sinking with the color of the last supernatant element and the number of cartridges dropped by the modules, and the trajectory followed by object 1000 while sinking into the sea (axis and rate of fall) by the alignment of the three color layers from an aerial view. From then on, it will be able to estimate the final position of object 1000, in particular thanks to projections, cross-referenced with information on the depth of the seabed, initiate a rescue mission, or recovery of elements of object 1000. For example, if object 1000 is an aircraft, a mission to recover the black boxes and the most polluting components can be envisaged in a short time, both to understand the causes of the accident, and from an insurance perspective and to preserve the seabed and the environment in general.

[0064] The supernatant elements 201 may comprise particles capable of reflecting light. These may be metal particles, such as aluminum, or even glass (silica), and they may be treated to be shiny. These particles are therefore reflective and capable of reflecting ambient or artificial light. This makes them advantageously visible both in broad daylight and at night when they are illuminated, for example by an observer flying over the area, by drones equipped with a photography or video recording system, or by Earth observation satellites.

[0065] The particles may comprise the following components: TiO2, SiO2, CaO, Na2O, TiO2 and BaO.

[0066] The supernatant elements 201 may also comprise luminescent phosphorescent particles. The phosphorescent particles may be configured to absorb light and release it slowly, making them visible even in the dark after being exposed to light for a certain time, particularly during the day. This may advantageously make them visible at night on the sea surface.

[0067] The supernatant elements 201 may also comprise fluorescent particles. Indeed, the fluorescent particles may be configured to emit light when exposed to an ultraviolet source. They may be visible both during the day and at night when illuminated by ultraviolet light. Thus, an observer projecting ultraviolet light, even at night, is able to locate the supernatant elements 201.

[0068] The cartridges 200, according to [Fig.l] and [Fig.2], are arranged in a radial configuration, with a regular distribution around the axis A of the ejection module 100. The cartridges 200 may be 24 in number per ejection module 100

[0069] The cartridges 200 are each of cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section, as illustrated in [Fig.3]. They comprise, according to [Fig.3], a first end 202, called the inner end oriented towards the axis A of the ejection module 100, and a second end 203, called the outer end, oriented towards the outside of the ejection module 100. The second end 203 may comprise a seal 204 configured to be broken by a pointed shape exerting a force on it along an axis of the cartridge 200.

[0070] Each cartridge 200 may comprise a piston 210 shown in [Fig.3]. The piston 210 comprises a first end 211, called the inner end, shown in [Fig.2]. It is oriented towards the axis A of the ejection module 100 and has a beveled shape.

[0071] The piston 210 comprises a second end 212, called the outer end, having a pointed shape towards the outside of the ejection module 100. The second end 212 is configured so that, when the piston is set in motion along an axis along said cartridge, it pierces a seal 204 on the second end 203 of the cartridge to release the supernatant element 201 contained in the cartridge.

[0072] The piston 210 may be metallic or made of a composite material.

[0073] The piston 210 can be set in motion by the release system 300. Said release system comprises a motor 301, of the stepper type positioned on the axis A of said ejection module 100, connected to an arm 302 comprising a bevel-shaped end 303 making it possible to set the piston 210 in motion when said stepper motor 301 is in motion.

[0074] The arm 302 may be metallic or made of a composite material. It may have the shape of a rectangular bar or a right circular cylinder. When the stepper motor 301 is in motion, it rotates the arm 302 through an angle representing an angular step. The angular step may be defined at a value equal to 360° divided by the number of cartridges contained in the ejection module 100, here 15°.

[0075] During its rotation, the first end 303 of the arm 302 comes into contact with the end 211 of the piston 210, and sets the piston in motion along an axis of the cartridge 200. The piston 210 then pierces the seal 204, and then releases the supernatant element 201 of the cartridge 200 into the sea.

[0076] The time elapsing between two movements of the arm is thus the predefined time interval between two releases of supernatant elements into two cartridges 200.

[0077] This time interval can be defined by a user.

[0078] The ejection module may also comprise a communication device 104 powered by the power supply 102. The communication device is configured to receive information from a user via an application and transmit it to the computer 103. It may comprise an RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) card, which has the advantage of consuming little energy.

[0079] The communication device 104 can thus be configured to transmit time intervals for the release of supernatant elements between the cartridges defined by a user. Thus, the supernatant elements 201 are released from the cartridges 200 at regular time intervals. The time intervals for releasing the cartridges may be identical. For example, they may be one hour in duration.

[0080] The invention also relates to an ejection system 500. The ejection system comprises the ejection module 100 and an ejection support 510, shown in [Fig.5].

[0081] The support has two configurations, a first support configuration in which the ejection support supports the ejection module 100, and a second configuration, an ejection configuration, in which the ejection support ejects the module.

[0082] The system 500 comprises an ejection mechanism 520 configured to eject the module when a value from a state sensor of the object is greater than a given threshold, representing abnormal behavior of the object.

[0083] Each ejection support being configured to eject a module at a predefined depth. Thus, the ejection support 510 can be configured to release when it undergoes a force corresponding to the force exerted by the water at a given depth when it is submerged.

[0084] The ejection support 510 may include a spring 521. The support stores potential energy when it compresses. It may be made from an elastic material such as steel.

[0085] The ejection support 510 may also include a trigger pin 522, which has two positions, a locked position and an open position. When the water pressure reaches a certain threshold corresponding to a given depth, the water pressure exerts a force on the trigger pin 522, moving it from its locked position to its open position. The pin may be made of stainless steel.

[0086] The ejector bracket 510 may also include a locking mechanism 523. It is configured to hold the spring compressed, and when the trigger pin 523 is in the open position, it releases the spring 521.

[0087] [Fig.5] represents a system comprising three modules and three ejection supports.

[0088] The supernatant elements included in the cartridges of the same module having parameters L*, a* and b* can be located in a predefined interval in the L*a*b* CIE 1976 chromatic space, CIE being the acronym for International Commission on Illumination.

[0089] The difference AEab between the colors of two supernatant elements of two cartridges of the same module can be defined as:

[0090] A^j. — + (Aa*)^ (At / p 7 (Equation 1)

[0091] With: • AL* the difference between the clarity of the two supernatant elements, • Aa* the difference between the a* values ​​corresponding to the values ​​on an axis green - red of the two supernatant elements, • Ab* the difference between the b* values ​​corresponding to the values ​​on a blue - yellow axis of the two supernatant elements.

[0092] Thus, it is possible for an observer to determine from which module the supernatant element originates. Also, the observer is able to differentiate the supernatant elements of each cartridge, and to classify them in an ejection order.

[0093] The supernatant elements 201 contained in the cartridges 200 of the same module 100 may be substantially of the same color, that is to say that they are not distinguishable to the naked eye when they are released into the sea.

[0094] As shown in [Fig.6], for an embodiment comprising three modules 100a, 100b and 100c, the supernatant elements 201a, 201b, 201c respectively contained in the modules 100a, 100b and 100c respectively are distinguishable by the naked eye.

[0095] The supernatant elements contained in each cartridge of the same module may be of the same color. They may also be of a similar color.

[0096] For example, the supernatant elements of the cartridges 200 of the module 100a may be of different shades of red, the supernatant elements 100b of the cartridges 200 of the module 100b may be of different shades of yellow and finally, the supernatant elements 100c of the cartridges 200 of the module 100c may be of different shades of purple.

[0097] In this configuration, the supernatant elements 201 contained in the cartridges 200 of different modules are distinguishable to the naked eye when they are released into the sea.

[0098] This allows for information on the depth reached by the object (predefined interval for each ejection support), as well as time information (a different color for each cartridge).

[0099] The system 500, as shown in [Fig. 5], can be positioned on an aircraft 1000. It can be integrated into a rear empennage 1001, as shown in [Fig. 4], an outer surface of the system positioned towards the outside of the aircraft 1000 marking a continuity with the empennage, and the entire thickness of the system 500 being contained in said empennage 1001.

[0100] The system 500 can also be integrated into existing aircraft without modifying the existing empennage. Indeed, the system 500 can be fixed, among other things, to the rear empennage of the aircraft 1000. This location is particularly advantageous because the rear empennage 1001 is one of the elements that deteriorates the least in the event of an aircraft crash. Another example of an embodiment

[0101] The other elements of the previous embodiment are identical.

[0102] In the context of an ejection system 500 comprising several ejection modules 100 and the same number of ejection supports 510, said ejection modules being configured to be ejected in a predefined order. Said ejection supports can be configured to allow the ejection of their ejection modules when the previous module, according to the predefined order, has been ejected.

[0103] The ejection supports may also be configured to eject the ejection module within a predefined time interval relative to an initial time.

[0104] For this, the ejection support 510 can comprise a support calculator 503, such as an electronic card, configurable, to send an order to the ejection mechanism 520 to eject the module at a predefined moment.

[0105] The electronic card and the ejection mechanism can be powered by a power source. This can be a battery.

[0106] The ejection system 500 can also be configured so that the battery can be recharged by an on-board charger connected to the on-board electricity, in order to be autonomous, without external electrical energy supply during the ejection time of said modules. Thus, the ejection system 500 can operate in the event of an electrical failure of the object 1000.

[0107] In an embodiment in which the object is a container, the system can be integrated temporarily or permanently into the container, preferably in a location that does not support another container or other forces corresponding to the force necessary to tilt the trigger pin 522 towards its open position, so as not to damage the system when the container is in a secure configuration.

[0108] It can in particular be positioned at the level of a recess in a container door.

[0109] It may also be attached to an exterior surface of the container, such that the entire thickness of the system 500 is located inside said container.

[0110] In an embodiment in which the object is a boat, the system can be integrated at the top of the hull of the boat for example. The ejection mechanism 520 can be manual. The system can be designed to be installed in a removable manner, in order to give a user the choice of integrating it or not on his object, temporarily or not.

[0111] In an embodiment in which the object is an underwater vehicle, for example a bathyscaphe, the ejection mechanism 520 may be manual. Thus, in this particular embodiment, the ejection modules are not configured to be released at a given depth. Thus, when an operator considers that the submarine presents significant technical failures and is lost, preventing it from returning to the surface safely, it can activate the ejection mechanism 520.

[0112] The ejection mechanism 520 may be a trigger pin, a portion of which is positioned inside the submarine, for example, with the ejection module outside. The trigger pin may, among other things, be triggered manually.

[0113] In another embodiment in which the object is an aircraft, the ejection mechanism 520 is configured to eject the module when a value from a state sensor 106 of the object is greater than a given threshold, representing abnormal behavior of the object. The state sensor 106 is connected to the communication device 104, which is configured to collect the information from the sensor and transmit it to the support computer 503. The support computer 503 can send an ejection order to the ejection mechanism 520 of the module at a predefined time.

[0114] The status sensor may be one or more of a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, a hydraulic pressure sensor, or an aircraft systems status sensor.

Claims

Claims

1. Ejection module (100) of cartridges (200) for locating an object (1000) having sunk at sea, comprising a protective casing (101) making said module waterproof, comprising: • at least two cartridges (200) each comprising a supernatant element (201) of lower density than that of water and visible on the surface of the water when it is released from the cartridge, and • a release system (300) of the cartridges (200) configured to release said cartridges (200) and the supernatant element (201) included in each cartridge (200) into the sea when it receives a release order, said module being characterized in that: • it further comprises a computer (103) configured to transmit an order to release the cartridges at a predefined time interval to the release system,

2. An ejection module according to claim 1, wherein at least two supernatant elements (201) each included in a cartridge (200) are, once released into the sea, distinguishable from each other by eye.

3. Nu. Ejection module (100) according to any one of the preceding claims having a right circular cylinder shape, and in which the cartridges (200) are arranged in a radial configuration, with a regular distribution around the axis of the module (100).

4. Ejection module (100) according to claim 3, wherein: • each cartridge (200) comprises a piston (210) comprising a first end (211) of a beveled shape towards the axis of the module and a second end (212) of a pointed shape towards the outside of the ejection module making it possible to pierce a seal (204) on an outer end of the cartridge (200) to release the supernatant element (201) included in the cartridge when the piston (210) is moving along an axis along said cartridge, • the release system comprises a stepping motor (301) positioned on the axis of the ejection module connected to an arm (302) comprising a bevel-shaped end (303) allowing said piston to be moved when said stepper motor is in motion.

5. An ejection module (100) according to any preceding claim, wherein the supernatant element (201) comprises particles capable of reflecting light.

6. An ejection module (100) according to any preceding claim, comprising at least three cartridges (200) and wherein the cartridge release system (300) is configured to release the supernatant elements (201) from the cartridges (200) at regular time intervals.

7. An ejection module (100) according to any preceding claim, comprising a communication device (104) configured to send and receive information from an application.

8. An ejection system (500) comprising at least one ejection module (100) according to any preceding claim and at least one ejection support (510), the support (510) comprising two configurations, a first support configuration in which the ejection support (510) supports the ejection module (100) and an ejection configuration, in which the ejection support (510) ejects the ejection module (100).

9. Ejection system (500) according to the preceding claim in which at least two supernatant elements (201) each included in a cartridge (200) are, once released into the sea, distinguishable from one another with the naked eye.

10. An ejection system (500) according to claim 8 or 9, comprising several ejection modules (100) and one ejection support (510) per ejection module (100), each ejection support being configured to eject an ejection module (100) at a predefined depth or a predefined time, the supernatant elements (201) included in the cartridges (200) of the same ejection module (100) being, once released into the sea, distinguishable to the naked eye from the supernatant elements (201) released into the sea coming from the cartridges (200) of the other ejection modules (100).

11. Ejection system (500) according to one of claims 8 to 10, in in which the supernatant elements (201) included in the cartridges of the same ejection module have parameters a*, b*, L* located in a predefined interval in the L*a*b* CIE 1976 chromatic space, CIE being the acronym for the International Commission on Illumination.

12. Ejection system (500) according to one of claims 8 to 11, configured to be positioned on an object presenting a risk of loss at sea.

13. Ejection system (500) according to one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the ejection support comprises an ejection mechanism (520) configured to eject the ejection module (100) when a value from a state sensor (106) of the object (1000) is greater than a given threshold, representing abnormal behavior of the object (1000).

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