Water-based surveillance POD with coordinated stabilization and progressive alert relay

Abstract

A water-based surveillance pod (100) includes a buoyant hull (102), a variable-height mast (108) carrying an above-water sensor unit (110), a below-water sensor unit (132), deployable flap assemblies (112) having through-flow cavities (114), and a ballast stabilizing module (116) with a ballast chamber (118) arranged to lower a center of gravity and stabilize the pod. A control unit (122) and inertial sensing arrangement (138) control deployment, ballast adjustment, mast extension, and sensor operation based on monitored motion parameters. In another aspect, a method (200) provides water-based event detection, encrypted alert generation, staged data transmission, and adaptive communication based on link conditions. In a further aspect, a stabilization method (300) controls flap deployment, ballast filling, and mast retraction responsive to stability conditions. A surveillance network (400) comprising a plurality of pods enables distributed monitoring, inter-pod event validation, relay-based communication, and coordinated regional coverage.

Description

[0001] WATER-BASED SURVEILLANCE POD WITH COORDINATED STABILIZATION AND PROGRESSIVE ALERT RELAY

[0002] FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of water-based surveillance and security systems, and more particularly to an autonomous, self-sustaining and self-balancing floating surveillance pod for coordinated monitoring of both above-water and below-water activities, with features including stability-controlled mast deployment, multi-source energy harvesting, and bandwidth-efficient alert communication in network-limited water environments.

[0004] The invention further extends to operation of a single surveillance pod or a plurality of such pods in a coordinated manner, wherein the pods are capable of intercommunication and cooperative monitoring to provide enhanced situational awareness and alert generation over a maritime region. The system may support variable-height operation of sensing structures, utilize energy from multiple environmental sources including water movement, and enable omnidirectional 360 degree monitoring. The invention also encompasses secure communication of alerts, including protected or encrypted transmission, in distributed and network-constrained environments.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0006] Water regions such as coastlines, ports, offshore installations, rivers, lakes, and open seas require continuous monitoring for security, environmental protection, anti-smuggling operations, and navigation safety. However, ensuring persistent and reliable surveillance across such vast and dynamic environments remains a significant technical challenge.

[0007] Conventionally, maritime surveillance is carried out using patrol vessels, manned stations, satellite systems, and aerial drones. These approaches suffer from inherent limitations. Patrol vessels and manned systems are resource-intensive, require continuous human involvement, and cannot provide uninterrupted monitoring over large areas. Satellite-based systems are constrained by revisit intervals, cloud cover, and limited capability for sub-surface monitoring. Aerial drones, although useful,have limited endurance and require frequent deployment and maintenance. As a result, continuous and real-time monitoring of remote maritime regions remains difficult.

[0008] To overcome these challenges, various buoy-based and autonomous maritime monitoring systems have been developed. Certain prior art systems disclose floating buoy platforms equipped with cameras and sensors for capturing surface-level data and transmitting such data to remote stations. Other systems provide networked buoy arrangements capable of relaying data across multiple nodes. Further developments include smart buoys incorporating loT-based sensing, positioning, and communication features for maritime monitoring applications.

[0009] However, these prior art systems suffer from several technical limitations. A major limitation is instability under dynamic sea conditions. Floating platforms are subjected to wave-induced motion, which adversely affects sensor accuracy, especially when elevated sensing elements such as masts are used. Existing systems do not adequately address coordinated stabilization mechanisms prior to deployment of such elevated structures, resulting in degraded data quality and operational inefficiencies.

[0010] Another limitation relates to communication constraints. Maritime environments typically lack reliable high-bandwidth communication infrastructure. Many prior art systems rely on satellite communication or low-bandwidth telemetry links, which are expensive and limited in capacity. Continuous transmission of large volumes of sensor data is therefore impractical, leading to delays in detection and response. Additionally, existing systems often lack mechanisms for prioritizing critical data over non-critical data, resulting in inefficient utilization of available bandwidth.

[0011] Further, most existing systems do not provide efficient data handling or progressive communication strategies. Instead, they attempt to transmit complete datasets, which increases communication load and reduces responsiveness in bandwidthlimited environments.

[0012] Another limitation of prior art systems is the lack of integrated above-water and below-water sensing in a unified platform. While certain systems may includeunderwater sensing elements, they are often not effectively coordinated with abovewater sensors, leading to incomplete situational awareness.

[0013] Additionally, although networked buoy systems exist, they typically lack cooperative intelligence and on-premise based event validation mechanisms. There is limited capability for multiple distributed units to collaboratively confirm detected events, resulting in higher chances of false alarms or missed detections. Moreover, adaptive relay selection and dynamic communication optimization among distributed nodes are not sufficiently addressed in existing systems.

[0014] Energy management also remains a challenge. While some prior art systems utilize renewable energy sources such as solar panels, they often lack efficient multisource energy harvesting and adaptive power management. This limits their ability to operate autonomously for extended durations and increases dependency on maintenance and external support.

[0015] Further, existing buoy-based systems involve a trade-off between stability and deployability. Larger platforms provide better stability but are difficult to transport and deploy, whereas smaller platforms are easier to deploy but suffer from instability and reduced sensing performance.

[0016] In view of the above limitations, there exists a need for an improved and compact maritime surveillance system that ensures stable operation in rough sea conditions, enables continuous and uninterrupted autonomous functioning, efficiently manages communication in low-bandwidth environments, integrates above-water and below-water sensing in a coordinated manner, and supports cooperative monitoring across multiple distributed units.

[0017] Therefore, there exists a need to solve aforementioned issues.

[0018] SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention provides a water-based surveillance pod (100) for monitoring activities occurring at, above, and below a water surface. The pod includes a buoyant hull (102) having an upper body (104) and a lower body (106), a mast (108) carrying at least one above-water sensor unit (110), at least one below-water sensor unit (132), a plurality of flap assemblies (112) circumferentially arranged around the upper body, and at least one ballast stabilizing module (116). Each flapassembly includes a through-flow cavity (114) configured to permit water flow therethrough to provide hydrodynamic damping and stabilization.

[0020] In one aspect, the pod further includes at least one ballast stabilizing module (116) having a ballast chamber (118) arranged to receive water and to be positioned below the hull so as to lower the center of gravity and improve stability. A control unit (122) operatively coupled with an inertial sensing arrangement (138) controls deployment of the flap assemblies and deployment and / or filling of the ballast stabilizing module before extension of the mast, and controls sensor operation and communication functions in response to monitored motion parameters.

[0021] In another aspect, the invention provides a method (200) for water-based event alerting, including acquiring sensor data, detecting a candidate event, generating an authenticated alert token header, and transmitting the authenticated alert token header prior to one or more evidence fragments to reduce latency and communication load. The method further supports encrypted communication, staged data transmission, fragment manifest generation, receiver-selectable evidence delivery, adaptive transmission control, and validation of detected events using information received from additional surveillance pods.

[0022] In a further aspect, the invention provides a method (300) for stabilizing the waterbased surveillance pod by deploying flap assemblies, introducing ballast water, monitoring motion parameters, and controlling mast extension or retraction based on stability conditions.

[0023] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a water-based surveillance network (400) comprising a plurality of surveillance pods distributed over a monitored region and configured for inter-pod communication, distributed event detection, hypothesis-message based validation, synchronized confirmation observation within a capture time window and / or bearing sector, relay selection, and coordinated regional monitoring.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Other objects, features, and advantages of the embodiment will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a water-based surveillance pod (100) in a deployed configuration, showing the hull (102), mast (108), and flap assemblies (H2).

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional side view of the water-based surveillance pod (100), showing the upper body (104), lower body (106), below-water sensor unit (132), ballast stabilizing module (116), and ballast chamber (118).

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed view of a flap assembly (112) including a through -flow cavity (114) and an upper surface adapted to support an energy -harvesting element. FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method (200) for water-based event alerting. FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method (300) for stabilizing the water -based surveillance pod (100).

[0029] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a water-based surveillance network (400) including a plurality of surveillance pods (100) and a receiver (200).

[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic representation of inter-pod communication and event validation among a plurality of surveillance pods (100A, 100B, 100C).

[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of relay-based communication and distributed monitoring in the surveillance network (400).

[0032] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a water-based surveillance pod (100) in a deployed operational configuration according to one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. The illustrated embodiment is representative and non-limiting, and various structural, dimensional, functional, modular, and operational modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The water-based surveillance pod (100) includes a buoyant hull (102) configured as the primary structural and flotation body for deployment in a water environment, including, such as, but not limited to, seas, oceans, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, canals, ports, harbors, estuaries, offshore platforms, and other natural or artificial water bodies. In one embodiment, the hull (102) may be manufactured as a multi -part assembly having an upper shell portion, a lower shell portion, internal reinforcing ribs, partition walls, mounting brackets, and sealed equipment compartments. The hull may be formed from materials including, such as, but not limited to, marinegrade polymers, glass-fiber reinforced plastic, carbon-fiber reinforced composites, rotomolded high-density polyethylene, corrosion-resistant coated metals, marine aluminum alloys, stainless steel, titanium -coated alloys, or hybrid multi-layer shell structures. In certain embodiments, the hull may further have sealed buoyancy chambers, foam-filled sections, honeycomb reinforcement layers, elastomeric impact protection rings, anti-fouling coatings, sacrificial marine protection layers, and shock-absorbing interfaces to enhance durability and long-term deployment capability in harsh marine environments. The hull (102) has an upper body (104) arranged to remain above the water surface during normal deployment and a lower body (106) adapted to remain at least partially submerged below the water surface. In additional embodiments, the hull (102) may further include one or more modular sections detachably coupled to one another to facilitate transport, field assembly, maintenance, servicing, or replacement of damaged components. Such modular sections may include, by way of example and not limitation, a detachable upper housing module, a replaceable submerged sensor module, an independently serviceable battery compartment, a removable ballast housing, or a detachable communication enclosure. In certain embodiments, the hull may additionally have integrated docking interfaces, lifting hooks, mooring rings, shock-absorbing collars, fender structures, or deployment brackets for use with vessels, docks, piers, offshore platforms, and autonomous launch systems. In alternative embodiments,the hull geometry may be adapted according to the deployment environment, such that in relatively calm inland waters the hull may have a compact circular or polygonal form, whereas for offshore or rough-sea deployment the hull may have an elongated hydrodynamic form with additional lateral stabilizing fins, skirts, or integrated keel members.

[0035] Mounted substantially along a central vertical axis of the hull (102) is a mast (108) configured as an extendable support structure for above-water sensing and communication hardware. In one embodiment, the mast (108) may include a telescopic multi-stage assembly having nested tubular members that are axially movable relative to one another. Each telescopic stage may have guide sleeves, low-friction bushings, bearing rings, telescopic seals, mechanical stops, locking collars, and anti-rotation interfaces. The tubular sections may be circular, polygonal, square, hexagonal, or custom-profiled to prevent undesired rotational movement during extension. In alternate embodiments, the mast may include an articulated arm, segmented hinged sections, scissor-lift mechanisms, foldable truss structures, vertically translating rigid posts, or modular support columns. Extension and retraction of the mast may be achieved by actuation hardware including, such as, but not limited to, electric linear actuators, servo-driven screw mechanisms, lead screws, rack-and-pinion assemblies, hydraulic pistons, pneumatic cylinders, spring-assisted extension members, cable-and-pulley arrangements, or motorized winch systems.

[0036] In additional embodiments, the mast (108) may include multiple independently movable telescopic sections, wherein a first section primarily supports sensing hardware and a second section primarily supports communication hardware, including antennas, directional transceivers, relay communication units, navigation beacons, and emergency signaling devices. The mast may further have a collapsible protective enclosure, wind-shielding fins, lightning protection members, vibration damping sleeves, and environmental sealing boots. In alternative embodiments, instead of a telescopic mast, the support structure may include a fold-out boom arm, an articulated mast having hinged segments, a retractable dome support, a deployable truss structure, or a rotating vertical support post.Mounted on the mast (108) is at least one above-water sensor unit (110). In one embodiment, the above-water sensor unit may include one or more sensing elements including, such as, but not limited to, visible-light imaging cameras, electro-optical cameras, thermal imaging modules, infrared sensors, LiDAR scanners, radar transceivers, laser range finders, night-vision modules, low-light cameras, hyperspectral sensors, directional microphones, weather sensors, and combinations thereof. The sensor unit may be physically mounted on a gimbal assembly, servo-driven pan-tilt platform, stabilized turret, rotatable dome housing, or multi-axis rotational support to enable controlled angular movement in azimuth and elevation. In additional embodiments, the above-water sensor unit (110) may further include environmental sensing hardware including wind-speed sensors, humidity sensors, rainfall sensors, barometric pressure sensors, ambient light sensors, smoke or gas detection modules, and atmospheric anomaly sensors. In alternative embodiments, the sensor unit may be distributed across multiple positions on the pod, including the mast (108), the upper body (104), and the flap assemblies (112), thereby enabling redundant sensing and enhanced omnidirectional coverage.

[0037] The lower body (106) houses at least one below-water sensor unit (132) configured for underwater monitoring and event detection. The below-water sensor unit may include sensing hardware including, such as, but not limited to, sonar transducers, hydrophones, active sonar emitters, passive acoustic arrays, pressure sensors, ultrasonic ranging elements, magnetic anomaly detectors, underwater imaging cameras, chemical sensors, conductivity sensors, salinity probes, dissolved oxygen sensors, temperature probes, current-flow sensors, and submerged object detection modules. In additional embodiments, the below-water sensor unit (132) may include multiple underwater sensing layers positioned at different depths relative to the water surface, including a near-surface sensing layer and a deeper sensing layer associated with the ballast stabilizing module (116). In alternative embodiments, the submerged sensing system may include active and passive sensing modes, wherein active sonar pulses are selectively emitted only during predefined eventdetection conditions to conserve power and reduce detectability. In furtherembodiments, bearing cues, acoustic direction-of-arrival estimates, wake indications, or submerged-object signatures derived from the below-water sensor unit (132) may be used by the control unit (122) to orient the above-water sensor unit (110) toward a region of interest or predicted surface emergence zone.

[0038] Circumferentially arranged around the upper body (104) is a plurality of flap assemblies (112). Each flap assembly is movable between a stowed position adjacent to the hull (102) and a deployed position extending radially outward from the hull. In one embodiment, each flap assembly may include a buoyant panel structure having a sealed hollow shell, foam-filled pontoon, composite float panel, inflatable chamber, or articulated multi-segment buoyancy member. The flap assembly may further include an internal reinforcement frame, hinge interface, actuator linkage, radial support arm, upper mounting plate, peripheral sealing elements, and optional energy -harvesting support surfaces.

[0039] In additional embodiments, each flap assembly (112) may further support energyharvesting structures including solar photovoltaic cells, flexible solar films, piezoelectric wave-energy elements, micro-turbines, vibration-based harvesting units, and replaceable energy -harvesting cartridges. In alternative embodiments, the flap assemblies may be configured as segmented flaps having individually controllable radial sections, allowing selective deployment of one or more flap sections based on wave direction, water current, sea-state conditions, or stability feedback. In further embodiments, the flap assemblies may be inflatable and may transition between deflated stowed states and inflated deployed states. In still further embodiments, the deployed flap assemblies (112) may collectively define a partial or complete hydrodynamic skirt surrounding a central region of the hull (102) and mast (108) to create a localized damping zone.

[0040] Each flap assembly (112) further has a through -flow cavity (114) extending between opposite openings of the flap body. The through-flow cavity may be configured as a cylindrical channel, elongated slot, rectangular duct, venturi -shaped flow tunnel, segmented passage, or multiple parallel ducts. In additional embodiments, the through-flow cavity (114) may include multiple serially arranged flow-control zones, each having independently adjustable shutters, baffles, louvres,or apertures. Such arrangements may allow progressive damping of water flow and dynamic control of hydrodynamic stabilization. In alternative embodiments, the cavity geometry may be modified according to expected wave conditions, including elongated channels for directional flow damping, radial slots for omnidirectional damping, or tapered venturi structures for controlled flow acceleration and pressure equalization.

[0041] In some embodiments, a predefined stability range and one or more instability thresholds are evaluated using one or more objective motion parameters including roll variance, pitch variance, angular acceleration, mast-tip displacement, image blur metric, acoustic signal-to-noise ratio, heave acceleration, or a composite stability index derived therefrom. The control unit (122) may vary an effective flow area of the through-flow cavity (114) responsive to a measured sea-state parameter and to at least one of the foregoing motion parameters so as to achieve a target damping condition.

[0042] Disposed below the lower body (106) is at least one ballast stabilizing module (116). The ballast stabilizing module has a ballast chamber (118) configured to receive surrounding water. In additional embodiments, the ballast stabilizing module (116) may include multiple independently fillable ballast chambers arranged vertically or laterally relative to one another, thereby enabling selective control of roll and pitch correction by asymmetric ballast adjustment. In alternative embodiments, the ballast stabilizing module may be detachable and replaceable with mission-specific modules including a deep-water sensor pod, an anchor-assisted keel module, or an extended weighted stabilizer.

[0043] Disposed within the hull (102) is an inertial sensing arrangement (138) operatively coupled to a control unit (122). The control unit (122) may execute self-diagnostic routines upon deployment, including verification of power status, communication status, actuator health, sensor operability, water-ingress status, and orientation validity prior to mast deployment. In additional embodiments, the control unit (122) may manage multiple operating modes including a baseline monitoring mode, an event mode, a storm-stow mode, and a recovery mode. In the storm-stow or recovery mode, the mast (108) may be retracted, nonessential subsystems may bereduced or shut down, and ballast parameters may be adjusted responsive to adverse sea-state conditions, reduced power availability, or excessive stability deviation. The pod (100) further includes a power subsystem having a power storage unit (124). The power storage unit may include rechargeable energy storage elements including lithium-ion batteries, lithium-polymer batteries, sodium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, supercapacitor banks, and hybrid energy modules. In one embodiment, the power storage unit may be positioned in the lower body (106) to additionally function as a counterweight. In additional embodiments, the pod (100) may further include an optional propulsion arrangement for drift compensation, positional correction, or network-geometry maintenance.

[0044] In additional embodiments, the pod (100) may include an anchor assembly (134) including a winch (148), a tether (150), and an anchor head (152) arranged to engage a seabed or other underwater engagement feature. The control unit (122) may adjust tether length responsive to line tension data and position data so as to maintain the pod within a defined drift envelope or desired network geometry. In further embodiments, the pod (100) may include a sensor-window maintenance arrangement (158) including a sensor window (160), one or more active cleaning elements selected from a UV emitter (164), an ultrasonic element (166), and a wiper (168), and optionally a reference fouling surface disposed adjacent to the sensor window. Operation of the maintenance arrangement may be triggered responsive to measured degradation of the reference fouling surface or a detected reduction in optical or acoustic signal quality.

[0045] In still further embodiments, upon detection of an instability condition indicative of potential overturning, the control unit (122) automatically retracts the mast (108) and reduces ballast contained in the ballast chamber (118), including by venting or pumping out ballast water, so as to recover a safe stability condition.

[0046] In operation, the above-described hardware components cooperate to provide stabilized floating deployment, omnidirectional sensing, concealed object detection, encrypted communication, adaptive alerting, storm -recovery functionality, and coordinated operation with a plurality of additional surveillance pods within a distributed surveillance network.FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional side view of the water-based surveillance pod (100) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the internal arrangement of the major structural, sensing, control, power, and stabilization components in relation to the hull (102). The sectional representation is intended to show one exemplary internal configuration, and it should be understood that the physical arrangement of the internal components may vary depending on deployment environment, required endurance, mission profile, hull dimensions, and manufacturing constraints.

[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the buoyant hull (102) includes the upper body (104) arranged to remain above the water surface during normal deployment and the lower body (106) adapted to remain at least partially submerged below the water surface. In one embodiment, the hull (102) defines a plurality of internal chambers separated by structural bulkheads, partition walls, reinforcement ribs, and sealing interfaces. Such internal chambers may include an electronics chamber, a mast housing chamber, a power chamber, a ballast conduit chamber, a sensor chamber, and a service access chamber. The sectional view illustrates that the hull wall may be formed as a multi-layer structure including an external corrosion-resistant shell, an intermediate reinforcement layer, and an inner equipment-support layer. In additional embodiments, the hull (102) may further include foam -filled buoyancy cavities, pressure-equalized air chambers, thermal insulation layers, anticondensation coatings, and vibration-damping inner liners. In alternative embodiments, the lower body (106) may have a deeper keel-like extension, tapered submerged nose section, or streamlined stabilizing enclosure to reduce drag and improve underwater stability.

[0048] Mounted substantially along the central vertical axis of the hull (102) is the mast (108). In the illustrated sectional configuration, the mast (108) extends upwardly from a mast support base positioned within the upper body (104). The mast support base may include a structural flange, reinforced mounting bracket, telescopic guide sleeves, low-friction bushings, anti-rotation rails, sealing rings, and vibrationisolation interfaces. In one embodiment, the mast (108) may be telescopically extendable from within an internal mast housing cavity defined in the upper body(104), such that the mast is substantially enclosed within the hull when in the stowed position. The mast base may be operatively coupled to an actuation arrangement including, such as, but not limited to, a linear actuator, motor-driven screw mechanism, rack-and-pinion system, cable-driven lift mechanism, hydraulic piston assembly, or spring-assisted extension system. In additional embodiments, the mast housing may include internal cable conduits, weather seals, service access ports, lubrication channels, and drainage passages. In alternative embodiments, the mast may be supported on an articulated support column, a foldable boom assembly, or a rotating vertical spindle arrangement.

[0049] Disposed at an upper portion of the mast (108) is the above-water sensor unit (110), which may be positioned at a selected observation height above the water surface. In one embodiment, the sectional arrangement illustrates that the sensor unit may be electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit (122) through internal wiring channels extending through the mast body. Such wiring channels may include shielded power cables, data communication lines, optical fibers, antenna feed lines, and actuator-control wiring. The sensor unit may be mounted on a gimbal base, servo-driven support frame, stabilized turret, or pan-tilt mechanism. In additional embodiments, the above-water sensor unit (110) may include multiple sensor layers vertically stacked along the mast, such as a first camera module at a lower observation height and a second thermal or radar module at a higher observation height. In alternative embodiments, the mast may carry detachable sensor cartridges, replaceable optics modules, and modular communication heads. The lower body (106) houses at least one below-water sensor unit (132) configured for underwater monitoring and event detection. In one embodiment, the below-water sensor unit (132) may be mounted proximate a lower external wall of the hull to maximize acoustic and environmental coupling with the surrounding water body. The sensor unit may include sonar transducers, hydrophones, underwater imaging sensors, pressure sensors, environmental probes, salinity sensors, conductivity sensors, dissolved oxygen sensors, and submerged object detection modules. In additional embodiments, the below-water sensor unit (132) may include multiple depth-distributed sensing layers, including a near-surface sensing layer disposedadjacent the hull and a deeper sensing layer positioned lower relative to the ballast stabilizing module (116). In alternative embodiments, the below-water sensing hardware may be mounted on a retractable downward probe, detachable submerged module, articulated sensing arm, or keel-mounted sensing frame.

[0050] The control unit (122) is disposed within an internal equipment chamber of the hull (102), preferably within the upper body (104) or an intermediate central chamber as shown in the sectional view. In one embodiment, the control unit may be mounted on a structural electronics tray, vibration-isolated platform, sealed electronics enclosure, or removable control cartridge. The control unit (122) is operatively coupled to the mast (108), the flap assemblies (112), the ballast stabilizing module (116), the inertial sensing arrangement (138), the power storage unit (124), and the sensor units (110, 132). In additional embodiments, the control unit (122) may include multiple distributed control modules including a mastcontrol board, sensor-processing module, ballast-control module, communication interface board, and power-management module. In alternative embodiments, the control functions may be distributed across multiple processors located in different hull chambers and interconnected by wired buses or internal wireless links.

[0051] The power storage unit (124) is shown disposed within the lower body (106) in the sectional view. In one embodiment, positioning the power storage unit in the lower region of the hull provides an additional counterbalancing effect by lowering the overall center of gravity of the pod (100). The power storage unit may include one or more battery modules, supercapacitor banks, charging controllers, battery management circuits, power conditioning circuits, and protective isolation enclosures. In additional embodiments, the power storage unit (124) may include multiple independently serviceable battery cartridges, thermal management channels, heat sinks, cooling plates, and waterproof battery housings. In alternative embodiments, the power storage unit may be partially integrated into the ballast stabilizing module (116) to further lower the effective center of mass.

[0052] Disposed below the lower body (106) is the ballast stabilizing module (116). In the illustrated embodiment, the ballast stabilizing module is shown in a deployed position extending downwardly relative to the hull. The ballast stabilizing moduleincludes the ballast chamber (118) configured to receive surrounding water. In one embodiment, the ballast chamber may be fluidically coupled to one or more inlet passages, outlet passages, valves, pumps, vent ports, and fluid-control channels extending through the lower body (106). The ballast chamber may be selectively filled and emptied under control of the control unit (122) to dynamically adjust the center of gravity and stabilize the pod. In additional embodiments, the ballast stabilizing module (116) may include multiple ballast sub-chambers arranged vertically or laterally relative to one another, thereby enabling differential ballast control for roll correction, pitch correction, and asymmetric stability control. In alternative embodiments, the ballast stabilizing module may include a telescopically extendable weighted pod, articulated ballast fin, deployable keel member, detachable weighted chamber, or a hybrid ballast-and-sensor module. The inertial sensing arrangement (138) is disposed within the hull (102), preferably proximate the central axis and proximate the center of mass of the pod (100). In one embodiment, this arrangement may include accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units, tilt sensors, vibration sensors, and angular rate sensors. Positioning the inertial sensing arrangement proximate the central axis improves accuracy of stability measurement and closed-loop control. In additional embodiments, multiple inertial sensing units may be distributed at different vertical positions within the hull to improve dynamic motion estimation. In alternative embodiments, the inertial sensing arrangement may additionally integrate mast-tip displacement sensors, hull strain sensors, and sensor-quality feedback inputs including image blur and acoustic signal quality.

[0053] In operation, the sectional arrangement shown in FIG. 2 enables controlled mast deployment, submerged sensing, ballast-based stabilization, center-of-gravity adjustment, power balancing, and coordinated control of sensing and communication functions while maintaining stable flotation and reduced hydrodynamic disturbance across different deployment conditions.

[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic representation of a control architecture and operational interaction between major subsystems of the water-based surveillance pod (100) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention,particularly showing the interaction between sensing elements, stability control components, actuation systems, and communication elements.

[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit (122) is operatively coupled to the abovewater sensor unit (110), the below-water sensor unit (132), the inertial sensing arrangement (138), the flap assemblies (112), the ballast stabilizing module (116), and the mast (108). In one embodiment, the control unit (122) receives sensor data from the above-water sensor unit (110) and the below-water sensor unit (132) through dedicated data acquisition interfaces including, such as, but not limited to, analog input channels, digital communication buses, high-speed serial interfaces, optical links, and sensor interface controllers. The control unit may include signal -conditioning circuitry, filtering modules, feature extraction modules, and eventdetection processors configured to process multi-modal sensor inputs.

[0056] The inertial sensing arrangement (138) provides motion-related inputs to the control unit (122), including parameters such as roll, pitch, angular acceleration, vibration levels, and dynamic stability characteristics of the pod (100). In one embodiment, the control unit (122) continuously evaluates one or more stability parameters derived from the inertial sensing arrangement and optionally from sensor-quality indicators, including image blur, acoustic signal -to-noise ratio, or signal stability metrics obtained from the sensor units (110, 132). In additional embodiments, the control unit may combine inertial measurements with environmental inputs derived from the sensor units to improve robustness of stability estimation under varying sea-state conditions. In alternative embodiments, multiple sensing sources may be fused to generate a composite stability index used for closed-loop control.

[0057] Based on the evaluated stability parameters, the control unit (122) is configured to control the deployment state and configuration of the flap assemblies (112) and the ballast stabilizing module (116). In one embodiment, the control unit may generate control signals for actuators associated with the flap assemblies to transition between stowed, partially deployed, and fully deployed states, thereby modifying the effective buoyant footprint and hydrodynamic damping characteristics. Simultaneously, the control unit may control fluid transfer into or out of the ballast chamber (118) within the ballast stabilizing module (116) using pumps, valves, orgravity-fed pathways. In additional embodiments, the control unit may independently control multiple ballast chambers or multiple flap segments to provide asymmetric stabilization for roll and pitch correction. In alternative embodiments, the control unit may adjust flow-control elements within the through-flow cavity (114) to dynamically regulate water passage and damping characteristics.

[0058] The control unit (122) is further operatively coupled to the mast (108) and is configured to control extension, retraction, and positioning of the mast based on stability conditions and operational requirements. In one embodiment, the control unit permits extension of the mast only when the evaluated stability parameter satisfies a predefined threshold condition. In additional embodiments, the control unit may limit the rate of mast extension, restrict maximum height, or initiate partial retraction in response to instability, excessive motion, or degradation in sensor quality. In alternative embodiments, the mast may be dynamically adjusted between multiple operational heights corresponding to different modes including baseline monitoring, event verification, and communication relay.

[0059] The control unit (122) further processes sensor data to detect a candidate waterbased event. In one embodiment, detection may be based on processing inputs from the above-water sensor unit (110), the below-water sensor unit (132), or a combination thereof. In additional embodiments, the control unit may perform sensor fusion by correlating underwater acoustic signatures with above-water visual or thermal observations to identify concealed, partially submerged, or emerging objects. In alternative embodiments, the control unit may generate directional cues based on underwater detection and orient the above-water sensor unit toward a predicted region of interest.

[0060] Upon detection of a candidate event, the control unit (122) may generate an alert message including event information derived from processed sensor data. In one embodiment, the control unit may prioritize transmission of a compact alert message over a low-bandwidth communication channel, followed by selective transmission of additional data based on communication conditions, available power, and event priority. In additional embodiments, the control unit may storeacquired sensor data within an onboard storage module and manage deferred transmission of stored data. In alternative embodiments, transmission of data may be dynamically adapted based on link quality, energy availability, or instructions received from a remote receiver.

[0061] In additional embodiments, the alert message may include an authenticated alert token header (400) comprising a timestamp, a location indicator, an event class, a confidence indicator, and a cryptographic reference to one or more evidence fragments associated with the detected event. The authenticated alert token header may further include a replay-protection value including a nonce, a monotonic counter, or both.

[0062] In further embodiments, the control unit (122) may generate a fragment manifest indicating available evidence fragment types and associated transmission priorities. A remote receiver (200) may request one or more evidence fragments by fragment type, region of interest, temporal segment, or fidelity level, and the control unit selectively transmits the requested evidence fragments responsive to the request and to link quality, available power, storage policy, or event priority.

[0063] The control unit (122) may further be configured to communicate with one or more additional surveillance pods forming a distributed monitoring network. In one embodiment, event information detected by a first pod may be transmitted to one or more neighboring pods, which may independently acquire corresponding sensor data and provide confirmation information. In additional embodiments, the control unit may validate detected events based on correlation of data received from multiple pods, thereby reducing false positives and improving detection accuracy. In alternative embodiments, the control unit may combine local sensor data with remote sensor data to generate a fused event assessment.

[0064] In additional embodiments, event information transmitted from a first pod to one or more neighboring pods may comprise a hypothesis message including at least one of an event location, a bearing sector, a capture time window, a predicted region of interest, or a predicted movement vector. The neighboring pods may acquire corresponding sensor data within the capture time window and / or toward the bearing sector to produce confirmation information.Validation of the candidate event may be based on a predefined agreement condition or a weighted consensus score determined from at least two pods, optionally taking into account pod reliability, sensor quality, temporal alignment, link quality, positional proximity, and environmental noise.

[0065] In additional embodiments, the control unit (122) may manage multiple operational modes including a baseline monitoring mode, an event mode, a communication relay mode, and a recovery or storm-stow mode. In the recovery or storm-stow mode, the control unit may retract the mast (108), reduce sensing activity, adjust ballast parameters, and limit communication operations in response to adverse environmental conditions or reduced power availability.

[0066] In operation, the control architecture illustrated in FIG. 3 enables coordinated interaction between sensing, stabilization, actuation, and communication subsystems of the pod (100), thereby providing adaptive stabilization, controlled mast deployment, multi-modal sensing, efficient alert generation, and reliable operation in dynamic water environments.

[0067] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic operational flow and method sequence for waterbased event alerting using the water-based surveillance pod (100) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated sequence is representative and non-limiting, and the order of one or more operations may be modified, combined, repeated, or selectively omitted depending on deployment conditions, event priority, communication status, and system configuration.

[0068] In one embodiment, the method begins with deployment of the water-based surveillance pod (100) in a selected water body. Upon deployment, the control unit (122) may initiate a startup and self-diagnostic routine to verify the operational status of the above-water sensor unit (110), the below-water sensor unit (132), the inertial sensing arrangement (138), the power storage unit (124), and communication hardware. In additional embodiments, the control unit may additionally verify ballast status, flap actuator operability, mast position, sensor alignment, and available stored energy before entering a monitoring mode. In alternative embodiments, deployment may include autonomous release from a vessel, dock-based launch, tethered deployment, or multi-pod regional deployment.Following deployment, the method includes deployment of the flap assemblies (112) outwardly from the hull (102) such that the flap assemblies are positioned at or proximate the water surface. In one embodiment, the flap assemblies may be transitioned from a stowed configuration to a partially or fully deployed configuration under control of the control unit (122). The control unit may determine the extent of deployment based on environmental conditions including wave height, current velocity, and detected instability. In additional embodiments, individual flap segments may be selectively deployed to compensate for directional wave forces. In alternative embodiments, the flap assemblies may remain partially stowed during calm-water operation and may be fully deployed only upon detection of instability or event-monitoring requirements.

[0069] The method further includes deployment of the ballast stabilizing module (116) below the hull (102) and introduction of water into the ballast chamber (118). In one embodiment, the control unit (122) controls one or more pumps, valves, or inlet ports to selectively fill the ballast chamber with surrounding water, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the pod (100). In additional embodiments, multiple ballast chambers may be independently filled to correct roll, pitch, or asymmetric disturbance. In alternative embodiments, ballast filling may be dynamically adjusted during operation based on real-time outputs from the inertial sensing arrangement (138).

[0070] Following stabilization, the method includes acquiring sensor data from the abovewater sensor unit (110) and / or the below-water sensor unit (132). In one embodiment, the acquired data may include image data, thermal data, acoustic data, sonar data, environmental data, positional data, or combinations thereof. In additional embodiments, the control unit (122) may synchronize acquisition timing between above-water and below-water sensing modules to support sensor fusion and temporal correlation. In alternative embodiments, acquisition rates may be dynamically varied based on operational mode, event suspicion level, or available power.

[0071] The method further includes processing the acquired sensor data to detect a candidate water-based event. In one embodiment, the control unit (122) mayexecute signal processing, image processing, acoustic analysis, pattern recognition, object classification, and sensor fusion operations. In additional embodiments, the control unit may correlate data from the above-water sensor unit (110) and the below-water sensor unit (132) to identify concealed, partially submerged, or emerging objects. In alternative embodiments, event detection may include validation against predefined event signatures, threat profiles, wake patterns, underwater acoustic anomalies, or unauthorized vessel movement.

[0072] Upon detection of a candidate event, the method includes generating an alert message including event information. In one embodiment, the alert message may include one or more of timestamp data, location information, event classification, confidence score, directional bearing, object type, and threat level. In additional embodiments, the alert message may be generated in encrypted form using secure processing hardware associated with the control unit (122). In alternative embodiments, multiple alert tiers may be generated, including a preliminary alert, a confirmed alert, and an escalated alert.

[0073] The method further includes transmitting the alert message over a low-bandwidth communication link prior to transmission of richer data, thereby reducing communication latency and bandwidth load. In one embodiment, this alert-first transmission enables rapid notification even under degraded network conditions. In additional embodiments, transmission may be prioritized based on event severity and available energy. In alternative embodiments, if communication connectivity is temporarily unavailable, the alert message may be queued and automatically transmitted upon restoration of the communication link.

[0074] Subsequently, the method includes transmitting additional data associated with the candidate event. In one embodiment, the additional data may include image frames, thermal imagery, acoustic recordings, sonar snapshots, metadata, sensor logs, and event history data. In additional embodiments, the control unit (122) may selectively transmit only requested data segments based on a receiver request, link quality, available power, or event priority. In alternative embodiments, the control unit may defer transmission of noncritical data and store the same within onboard memory for delayed transmission.In additional embodiments, the method may include generating an authenticated alert token header (400) and, optionally, a fragment manifest identifying available evidence fragment types and associated transmission priorities. A receiver (200) may request one or more evidence fragments by fragment type, region of interest, temporal segment, or fidelity level, and the requested evidence fragments may be selectively transmitted responsive to the request and to link quality, available power, storage policy, or event priority.

[0075] In further embodiments, the method may include transmitting event information to one or more additional surveillance pods and receiving corresponding confirmation data therefrom. In one embodiment, neighboring pods may independently acquire corresponding sensor data and return confirmation information. In additional embodiments, the control unit (122) may validate the detected event based on agreement conditions satisfied by at least two pods. In alternative embodiments, a distributed confirmation score may be generated based on consensus among multiple pods.

[0076] In additional embodiments, the transmitted event information may comprise a hypothesis message including at least one of an event location, a bearing sector, a capture time window, a predicted region of interest, or a predicted movement vector, and the neighboring surveillance pods may acquire time-synchronized observation segments within the capture time window and / or toward the bearing sector to produce confirmation information.

[0077] Validation of the detected event may be based on a predefined agreement condition or a weighted consensus score determined from information received from at least two surveillance pods.

[0078] The method may further include adaptive response control following event confirmation. In one embodiment, the mast (108) may be extended to a greater height for enhanced monitoring or communication relay. In additional embodiments, flap deployment, ballast distribution, and sensing rates may be dynamically adjusted responsive to event severity and environmental conditions. In alternative embodiments, the pod may transition into an event-tracking mode, relay mode, or storm-recovery mode.In operation, the method sequence illustrated in FIG. 4 enables stabilized deployment, adaptive event detection, low-latency alerting, selective data transmission, and distributed validation across a surveillance pod network.

[0079] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic representation of a distributed water-based surveillance network (300) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, including a plurality of water-based surveillance pods (100) deployed over a monitored region and operatively configured to communicate with one another and with a receiver (200).

[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the surveillance network (300) includes a plurality of surveillance pods (100A, 100B, 100C) distributed over a selected water region to provide coordinated monitoring coverage. In one embodiment, the pods may be positioned in a predefined geometric arrangement including, such as, but not limited to, linear spacing, triangular arrangement, grid formation, sector-based deployment, perimeter deployment, harbor-entry deployment, port-boundary deployment, coastline surveillance formation, or distributed offshore coverage. The relative spacing between the pods may be selected based on sensing range, communication range, expected threat vectors, environmental conditions, and the required surveillance density. In additional embodiments, the spacing may be dynamically adjusted over time based on drift, current flow, event localization requirements, threat direction, or network optimization conditions. In alternative embodiments, the network may include both fixed-position pods and drift-tolerant mobile pods, wherein certain pods are anchored while others are free-floating or self-positioning. Each surveillance pod (100) within the network may include the structural and sensing architecture described with reference to FIGS. 1-4, including the hull (102), mast (108), above-water sensor unit (110), below-water sensor unit (132), flap assemblies (112), ballast stabilizing module (116), control unit (122), and power storage unit (124). In one embodiment, each pod may independently perform local sensing, stabilization, event detection, alert generation, and communication relay functions. In additional embodiments, the pods may additionally share sensor-derived data, event indicators, confidence values, environmental state information, power status, and stability status with neighboring pods to support coordinatedmonitoring and decision-making. In alternative embodiments, one or more pods may operate in a dedicated relay mode, a dedicated validation mode, or an energyconservation standby mode.

[0081] In one exemplary operational embodiment, a first surveillance pod (100 A) may detect a candidate water-based event using locally acquired sensor data from the above-water sensor unit (110) and / or the below- water sensor unit (132). Such candidate event may include, such as, but not limited to, unauthorized vessel movement, concealed underwater object presence, wake signature anomalies, partially submerged object emergence, unauthorized raft movement, submerged weapon detection, suspicious environmental disturbances, underwater propulsion signatures, or abnormal acoustic events. Upon local detection, the first surveillance pod (100 A) may transmit event indication information to one or more neighboring surveillance pods (100B, 100C).

[0082] In one embodiment, the transmitted event indication may include event location, time stamp, directional bearing, movement vector, confidence level, detected object classification, underwater acoustic signature, image-derived feature descriptors, and predicted trajectory. In additional embodiments, the event indication may be transmitted in encrypted form and may further include authentication data, source verification identifiers, integrity validation tokens, and repl ay -protection elements. In alternative embodiments, the event indication may include only a compact event signature, threat code, or location marker to minimize bandwidth usage.

[0083] Upon receiving the event indication, the neighboring surveillance pods (100B, 100C) may independently acquire corresponding sensor data from their respective above-water sensor units (110) and below-water sensor units (132). In one embodiment, the neighboring pods may orient their sensing operations toward a predicted region of interest based on received bearing information, predicted movement trajectory, or underwater emergence estimate. In additional embodiments, the mast (108) of one or more neighboring pods may be extended to a greater observation height for enhanced verification coverage and improved line-of-sight communication. In alternative embodiments, underwater sensing intensity,sonar pulse rate, thermal acquisition frequency, or camera frame rate may be increased in response to the received event indication.

[0084] Following local verification, the neighboring pods (100B, 100C) may transmit confirmation information back to the first surveillance pod (100A) and / or directly to the receiver (200). In one embodiment, the confirmation information may include binary confirmation status, confidence value, locally acquired sensor evidence, object classification results, acoustic correlation outputs, and motion tracking data. In additional embodiments, confirmation may be based on agreement conditions requiring concurrence between at least two pods within a predefined temporal window. In alternative embodiments, a weighted consensus score may be generated based on pod reliability, link quality, sensor quality, positional proximity, and environmental noise levels.

[0085] In one embodiment, the first surveillance pod (100A) may determine confirmation of the candidate event based on the received confirmation information from one or more neighboring pods. In additional embodiments, the control unit (122) of the first pod may combine locally acquired sensor data with confirmation data received from neighboring pods to generate a fused event assessment, an updated confidence score, and a threat priority indicator. In alternative embodiments, event validation may require temporal consistency across multiple sensing intervals and correlation across both above-water and below-water sensing domains.

[0086] The surveillance network (400) may further include a relay communication configuration. In one embodiment, one of the surveillance pods (100) may be selected as a relay pod based on one or more parameters including available power, communication link quality, stability condition, mast height capability, environmental exposure, and relative position within the network. In additional embodiments, the selected relay pod may extend its mast (108) to increase communication range and establish a higher-quality communication link with the receiver (200). In alternative embodiments, relay selection may be dynamically reassigned during operation based on drift, battery level, link degradation, or failure of another relay pod.In further embodiments, event-related data may be transmitted in a multi-hop communication path between the plurality of surveillance pods (100) toward the receiver (200). In one embodiment, data originating from a distant pod may be relayed sequentially through one or more intermediate pods before reaching the receiver. In additional embodiments, the multi-hop path may be adaptively selected based on communication quality, available energy, link congestion, stability condition, and pod availability. In alternative embodiments, redundant relay paths may be maintained simultaneously to improve fault tolerance and communication resilience.

[0087] The receiver (200) may include a control station, remote command center, vessel -based monitoring station, harbor control system, coastal surveillance interface, emergency response center, or mobile tactical unit. In one embodiment, the receiver may process incoming event alerts, confirmation data, sensor evidence, networkhealth information, and relay status information. In additional embodiments, the receiver may transmit tasking commands, sensor-specific data requests, relay instructions, event-priority updates, or alert escalation commands back to the surveillance network (300).

[0088] In operation, the distributed surveillance network (400) illustrated in FIG. 5 enables coordinated regional monitoring, pod-to-pod event validation, adaptive relay communication, multi-hop transmission, distributed threat confirmation, and improved detection accuracy through network-based sensor consensus.

[0089] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a water-based surveillance network (400) including a plurality of surveillance pods (100) and a receiver (200) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0090] As illustrated, the surveillance network (400) includes a plurality of surveillance pods (100) deployed across a selected water region to provide distributed sensing and coordinated monitoring coverage. In one embodiment, the surveillance pods may be spatially arranged to collectively cover a harbor region, river corridor, canal entry point, offshore zone, coastal boundary, or a predefined security perimeter around a critical maritime asset. The plurality of pods may be deployed in fixed,semi-fixed, or adaptive positions depending on the surveillance objective, expected threat direction, water current conditions, and communication range requirements. Each surveillance pod (100) may include the structural, sensing, stabilization, control, and communication features described with reference to FIGS. 1-5, including the hull (102), mast (108), above-water sensor unit (110), below-water sensor unit (132), flap assemblies (112), ballast stabilizing module (116), control unit (122), and power storage unit (124). In one embodiment, each pod operates as an autonomous node capable of local event detection, stabilization control, communication relay, and cooperative validation.

[0091] In additional embodiments, the network (400) may include pods positioned in concentric monitoring layers, such as an outer detection layer, an intermediate validation layer, and an inner response or relay layer. In alternative embodiments, the pods may be dynamically repositioned or drift-compensated to maintain desired coverage density and communication connectivity.

[0092] The receiver (200) may be positioned onshore, onboard a patrol vessel, within a harbor control facility, or in a mobile command unit. The receiver may be configured to receive alert information, event confirmations, live sensor data, historical event records, network-health status, and positional data from the surveillance pods (100). In additional embodiments, the receiver (200) may transmit control instructions, region-priority updates, alert escalation parameters, and tasking commands to one or more pods.

[0093] In operation, the surveillance network (400) provides region-wide distributed sensing, early event alerting, coordinated confirmation, and centralized monitoring through the receiver (200).

[0094] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic representation of inter-pod communication and event validation among a plurality of surveillance pods (100A, 100B, 100C) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] As illustrated, a first surveillance pod (100 A) may detect a candidate water -based event using sensor data acquired from its above-water sensor unit (110) and / or below-water sensor unit (132). Such event may include unauthorized vessel entry,submerged-object movement, partially visible raft detection, wake-pattern anomaly, acoustic disturbance, or concealed underwater object detection.

[0096] Upon detection, the first surveillance pod (100 A) may generate event information and transmit the same to one or more neighboring surveillance pods (100B, 100C). In one embodiment, the transmitted event information may include time stamp, event location, movement direction, predicted path, threat level, sensor-derived signature, and confidence value.

[0097] In additional embodiments, the transmitted event information may be encrypted and authenticated prior to inter-pod transmission. In alternative embodiments, the transmitted packet may include only a compact alert signature, event identifier, or region marker to reduce bandwidth usage.

[0098] Upon receiving the event information, the neighboring pods (100B, 100C) may independently acquire corresponding sensor data from their respective sensing units and generate local verification outputs. In one embodiment, the neighboring pods may orient sensing operations toward a predicted region of interest based on received bearing or movement vector.

[0099] In additional embodiments, the mast (108) of one or more neighboring pods may be extended to increase optical field-of-view and communication range during validation. In alternative embodiments, the below-water sensor unit (132) may switch to a higher sampling mode or active sonar mode for confirmation.

[0100] Following local sensing, the neighboring pods may transmit confirmation information back to the first surveillance pod (100A) and / or the receiver (200). The confirmation information may include local detection status, confidence score, sensor evidence, movement correlation, and event classification.

[0101] In one embodiment, the event may be treated as confirmed when a predefined agreement condition is satisfied, including concurrence between at least two surveillance pods. In additional embodiments, a weighted consensus score may be determined based on pod reliability, sensor quality, and temporal alignment. In alternative embodiments, event confirmation may require both above-water and below-water corroboration.This inter-pod validation architecture significantly improves detection accuracy and reduces false-positive event generation.

[0102] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic representation of relay-based communication and distributed monitoring in the surveillance network (400) according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] As illustrated, one of the surveillance pods (100) may be configured as a relay pod within the network (400). In one embodiment, the relay pod may be selected based on parameters including available power, communication link quality, stability condition, mast extension capability, environmental exposure, and relative position within the network.

[0104] The selected relay pod may extend its mast (108) only to a lowest permissible relay height satisfying a target communication criterion and a stability limit, thereby improving communication range while avoiding unnecessary elevation. In additional embodiments, the target communication criterion may include one or more of received signal strength, link margin, signal -to-noise ratio, packet error rate, successful acknowledgement rate, or measured throughput. The relay pod may temporarily reduce local sensing operations and allocate increased power resources toward communication functions, and relay responsibility may be dynamically reassigned among multiple pods based on network conditions.

[0105] In one embodiment, event data originating from a distant surveillance pod may be transmitted through one or more intermediate pods in a multi-hop communication path toward the receiver (200). Such multi-hop transmission enables communication beyond direct line-of-sight or direct-range limitations.

[0106] In additional embodiments, multiple relay paths may be simultaneously maintained to improve redundancy and fault tolerance. In alternative embodiments, the control unit (122) of each pod may dynamically select the next-hop pod based on link quality, battery availability, and pod stability.

[0107] The network (400) may further support distributed monitoring, wherein different pods monitor different sectors or depth zones of the same water region. In one embodiment, one pod may prioritize surface surveillance while another prioritizes underwater sensing. In additional embodiments, monitoring responsibilities may bedynamically redistributed in response to detected threats, environmental changes, or failure of a neighboring pod.

[0108] In operation, the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 8 enables resilient communication, long-range alert delivery, network redundancy, and coordinated distributed surveillance across an extended water region.

[0109] The present invention may be advantageously deployed across a wide range of water-based monitoring, surveillance, safety, and event-alerting environments. In one exemplary application, the water-based surveillance pod (100) and the surveillance network (400) may be deployed for coastal and harbor security, including monitoring of unauthorized vessel entry, suspicious raft movement, submerged object detection, and perimeter surveillance around ports, naval installations, jetties, offshore terminals, and coastal infrastructure.

[0110] In additional applications, the invention may be used for river, canal, lake, reservoir, and inland waterway monitoring, including surveillance of strategic bridges, canal gates, dam perimeters, inland ports, and water-transport corridors.

[0111] In further applications, the invention may be deployed for critical infrastructure protection, including monitoring around offshore oil and gas platforms, floating solar installations, water-intake structures, desalination plants, underwater pipelines, and coastal communication assets.

[0112] In alternative embodiments, the invention may be used for border surveillance and infiltration detection, including detection of concealed or partially submerged objects, unauthorized crossing attempts, underwater propulsion signatures, floating contraband movement, and suspicious water-surface disturbances.

[0113] In certain applications, the surveillance pods (100) may be deployed as a distributed fleet for regional monitoring, event validation, relay-based communication, and resilient surveillance coverage over extended water regions.

[0114] The invention may further be applied in disaster monitoring and emergency response, including flood-zone surveillance, water-level anomaly detection, floating debris detection, post-storm assessment, and emergency communication relay.In additional applications, the invention may be used for environmental and ecological monitoring, including detection of oil spills, unusual acoustic disturbances, water-quality anomalies, and unauthorized discharge events.

[0115] The system may also be used in smart-city and smart-port monitoring systems, wherein the surveillance network (400) interfaces with centralized control infrastructure, emergency response centers, and maritime traffic management systems.

[0116] The present invention provides several technical and operational advantages over conventional water-based monitoring systems.

[0117] One significant advantage is the provision of a stability-enhanced floating surveillance architecture, wherein the combination of the flap assemblies (112) and the ballast stabilizing module (116) establishes a vertically spaced stabilization configuration that improves resistance to roll, pitch, and wave-induced disturbances.

[0118] Another advantage is the ability to provide simultaneous above-water and below-water monitoring through coordinated operation of the above-water sensor unit (110) and the below-water sensor unit (132), thereby enabling detection of concealed, partially submerged, and emerging objects.

[0119] A further advantage is the provision of adaptive mast deployment, wherein the mast (108) may be selectively extended or retracted based on stability conditions, communication requirements, and event-monitoring needs.

[0120] Another technical advantage is the capability for distributed inter-pod validation, wherein multiple surveillance pods (100) cooperate to validate detected events, thereby improving detection accuracy and reducing false-positive alerts.

[0121] The invention further provides an advantage of low-latency alert-first communication, wherein compact alert information is transmitted prior to richer evidence data, thereby reducing communication load and enabling faster response in low-bandwidth environments.

[0122] Another advantage is the provision of relay -based and multi -hop communication, enabling long-range data transmission even where direct communication with the receiver (200) is unavailable.The system additionally provides an advantage of modular deployment flexibility, allowing use as a single surveillance pod or as part of a distributed surveillance network (400).

[0123] A further advantage lies in the capability for energy -efficient operation, including use of onboard energy storage and optional energy-harvesting arrangements for extended autonomous deployment.

[0124] The invention also provides improved fault tolerance and redundancy, wherein multiple pods continue monitoring and communication functions even if one pod becomes unavailable.

[0125] The foregoing descriptions of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

We Claim1. A water-based surveillance pod (100) comprising:a buoyant hull (102) having an upper body (104) and a lower body (106), the upper body (104) being adapted to remain above a water surface and the lower body (106) being adapted to remain submerged below the water surface;a mast (108) mounted on the hull (102) along a central axis of the water-based surveillance pod (100) and extendable between a retracted position within a height of the upper body (104) and an extended position, the mast (108) carrying at least one above-water sensor unit (110);a below-water sensor unit (132) disposed in the lower body (106);a plurality of flap assemblies (112) circumferentially arranged around the upper body (104), each flap assembly (112) being movable between a folded stowed position adjacent to the hull (102) and a deployed position extending radially outward from the hull (102), each flap assembly (112) comprising:a buoyant body,a through-flow cavity (114) extending between opposite openings of the flap assembly (112) to permit bidirectional flow of water therethrough;at least one ballast stabilizing module (116) disposed in the lower body (106), the ballast stabilizing module (116) being movable between a retracted position and a deployed position extending downwardly relative to the lower body (106), the ballast stabilizing module (116) having a ballast chamber (118) to receive water;an inertial sensing arrangement (138) disposed within the hull (102) proximate the central axis of the pod (100), to sense motion parameters of the pod (100); anda control unit (122) disposed within the hull (102) and operatively coupled to the mast (108), the plurality of flap assemblies (112), the ballast stabilizing module (116), and the inertial sensing arrangement (138);wherein, in the stowed position,the plurality of flap assemblies (112) are positioned adjacent to the hull (102), and the ballast stabilizing module (116) is positioned within or proximate the lower body (106);wherein, in the deployed position,the plurality of flap assemblies (112) are positioned radially outward from the upper body (104) at or proximate the water surface to provide a distributed buoyant arrangement around the hull (102), each through-flow cavity (114) being oriented to permit flow of water through the respective flap assembly (112) during relative motion between the pod (100) and surrounding water;the ballast stabilizing module (116) is positioned below the lower body (106) with the ballast chamber (118) containing water so as to provide a mass distribution spaced vertically below the plurality of flap assemblies (112), thereby lowering a center of mass of the pod (100) relative to the plurality of flap assemblies (112) to stabilize the pod (100);wherein the control unit (122) is configured, prior to extension of the mast (108), to deploy the plurality of flap assemblies (112) and deploy and / or fill the ballast stabilizing module (116) so as to lower the center of mass of the pod (100) relative to the plurality of flap assemblies (112);wherein the control unit (122) permits extension of the mast (108) only when the motion parameters indicate that the pod (100) is within a predefined stability range; andwherein the control unit (122) inhibits further extension of the mast (108) or retracts the mast (108) when at least one monitored motion parameter exceeds a predefined threshold.

2. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each flap assembly (112) comprises a buoyant body having an upper surface of the buoyant body carrying one or more photovoltaic elements.

3. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the through-flow cavity (114) extends laterally through the flap assembly (112) and is open at opposite ends.

4. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of flap assemblies (112), in the deployed position, are arranged circumferentially around the upper body (104) to form a continuous or segmented hydrodynamic damping region.

5. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ballast stabilizing module (116) comprises a deployable chamber (118) movable along a vertical axis relative to the lower body (106).

6. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ballast chamber (118) is in fluid communication with surrounding water through at least one inlet and one outlet controlled by a pump or valve (120).

7. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) deploys the flap assemblies (112) and deploys and / or fills the ballast stabilizing module (116) before permitting extension of the mast (108).

8. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) permits extension of the mast (108) only when motion parameters measured by the inertial sensing arrangement (138) are within a predefined stability range.

9. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) retracts the mast (108) when at least one motion parameter exceeds a predefined threshold.

10. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mast (108) comprises a telescopic assembly including a plurality of nested segments extendable between the retracted position and the extended position.

11. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the above-water sensor unit (110) comprises at least one electro-optical camera and at least one thermal imaging sensor mounted on the mast (108).

12. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the below-water sensor unit (132) comprises at least one sonar transducer disposed on or within the lower body (106).

13. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the above-water sensor unit (110) comprises a LiDAR sensor.

14. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pod comprises a power subsystem including a power storage unit (124) comprising at least one rechargeable battery selected from lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, or other electrochemical storage devices, and at least one energy source including photovoltaic elements disposed on the flap assemblies (112), a wave-energy converter, or a current-driven generator.

15. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pod comprises a communication subsystem including a low-bandwidth transceiver (140) for transmission of an authenticated alert token header and a higher-bandwidth transceiver (142) for transmission of richer evidence data exceeding a predefined threshold.

16. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an anchor assembly (134) including a winch (148), a tether (150), and an anchor head (152) arranged to engage a seabed.

17. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sensor-window maintenance arrangement (158) including at least one active cleaning element selected from a UV emitter (164), an ultrasonic element (166), or a wiper (168) positioned adjacent to a sensor window.

18. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each through-flow cavity (114) comprises at least one adjustable aperture, shutter, louvre, or baffle, and the control unit (122) varies an effective flow area of the through-flow cavity (114) in response to at least one of a measured sea-state parameter, roll, pitch, or damping condition.

19. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) directs the above-water sensor unit (110) toward a region of interest based on a directional cue derived from the below-water sensor unit (132).

20. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) retracts the mast (108) and reduces ballast contained in the ballast chamber (118), including by venting or pumping out ballast water, upon detection of an instability condition indicative of potential overturning.

21. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the power storage unit (124) is positioned in the lower body (106) to provide a counterweight and lower a center of gravity of the pod (100).

22. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are arranged in a distributed configuration and are operatively coupled to the control unit (122) to coordinate coverage across a 360-degree field of view.

23. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication subsystem further comprises a fragment manifest generator configured to indicate available evidence fragment types and associated transmission priorities for event-related data.

24. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) correlates data from the above-water sensor unit (110) and the below-water sensor unit (132) to identify concealed objects not visible above a water surface.

25. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication subsystem is configured to transmit, to one or more additional surveillance pods (100), a hypothesis message including at least one of an event location, a bearing sector, a capture time window, a predicted region of interest, or a predicted movement vector, and to receive corresponding confirmation information from the one or more additional surveillance pods (100).

26. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) validates a detected event based on correlation of locally acquiredsensor data and the confirmation information received from the one or more additional surveillance pods (100).

27. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) combines local sensor data with data received from one or more additional surveillance pods (100) to improve detection accuracy.

28. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 25, wherein the communication subsystem is configured for cooperative operation with a plurality of surveillance pods (100) arranged to provide distributed monitoring over a region.

29. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 26, wherein validation of the detected event is based on a predefined agreement condition or a weighted consensus using information from at least two surveillance pods (100).

30. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion parameter comprises at least one of roll variance, pitch variance, angular acceleration, mast-tip displacement, image blur metric, acoustic signal -to-noise ratio, or a combination thereof.

31. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (122) operates the mast (108) at a first height during a baseline mode and at a second greater height during an event monitoring or communication relay mode.

32. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 16, wherein tether length is adjusted responsive to line tension and position data to maintain the pod within a defined drift envelope or desired network geometry.

33. The water-based surveillance pod (100) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sensor-window maintenance arrangement further comprises a reference fouling surface disposed adjacent to the sensor window, and maintenance is triggered responsive to measured degradation of the reference fouling surface.

34. A method (200) for water-based event alerting using a water-based surveillance pod (100), the method (200) comprising:deploying the water-based surveillance pod (100) in a water body; deploying a plurality of flap assemblies (112) outwardly from a hull (102) of the water-based surveillance pod (100) and deploying and / or filling aballast stabilizing module (116) below the hull (102) so as to establish a vertically spaced stabilization arrangement of the water-based surveillance pod (100);acquiring sensor data from an above-water sensor unit (110) and / or a below- water sensor unit (132);processing the sensor data to detect a candidate water-based event; generating an authenticated alert token header comprising a timestamp, a location indicator, an event class, a confidence indicator, and a cryptographic reference to one or more evidence fragments associated with the candidate water-based event;transmitting the authenticated alert token header over a low-bandwidth communication link;subsequently transmitting one or more evidence fragments associated with the candidate water-based event; andcontrolling transmission of the one or more evidence fragments based on at least one of link quality, available power, storage policy, transmission priority, or a request from a receiver (200);wherein the authenticated alert token header is transmitted prior to transmission of the one or more evidence fragments; andthe authenticated alert token header contains sufficient event information to initiate an alert response before receipt of the one or more evidence fragments.

35. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising generating, together with the authenticated alert token header or responsive thereto, a fragment manifest indicating available evidence fragment types and associated transmission priorities.

36. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein the one or more evidence fragments comprise at least one of image data, thermal data, acoustic data, sonar data, metadata, or event history data associated with the candidate water-based event.

37. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising transmitting the authenticated alert token header prior to transmitting the one or more evidence fragments to reduce latency of event communication.

38. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising storing the one or more evidence fragments; and transmitting stored evidence fragments based on transmission conditions including link quality, available power, storage policy, or event priority.

39. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising receiving, from a receiver (200), a request identifying at least one requested evidence fragment type, region of interest, temporal segment, or fidelity level; and transmitting the one or more evidence fragments corresponding to the request.

40. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein generating the authenticated alert token header comprises generating an authenticated payload by applying a cryptographic operation to at least a portion of the authenticated alert token header using a key, and transmitting the authenticated payload over the communication link.

41. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein processing the sensor data comprises correlating data from the above-water sensor unit (110) and the below-water sensor unit (132) to identify concealed or partially submerged objects.

42. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising transmitting event information from a first surveillance pod (100), a hypothesis message including at least one of an event location, a bearing sector, a capture time window, a predicted region of interest, or a predicted movement vector to at least one additional surveillance pod (100), receiving corresponding confirmation information from the at least one additional surveillance pod (100), and synchronizing event-related information between the first surveillance pod and the at least one additional surveillance pod.

43. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising transmitting, from a first surveillance pod (100), a hypothesis message including at least one of an event location, a bearing sector, a capture time window, a predicted region of interest, or a predicted movement vector to at least one additional surveillance pod(100), receiving corresponding confirmation information from the at least one additional surveillance pod (100), and synchronizing event-related information between the first surveillance pod and the at least one additional surveillance pod.

44. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising combining locally acquired sensor data with data received from one or more additional surveillance pods (100); and refining detection of the candidate water-based event based on the combined data.

45. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising deploying a plurality of surveillance pods (100) over a region, acquiring sensor data at each of the plurality of surveillance pods (100), exchanging at least a portion of the acquired sensor data or event information among the plurality of surveillance pods (100), and coordinating monitoring of the region based on the exchanged data to improve detection coverage and event identification.

46. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein validating the candidate water-based event comprises confirming the event based on a predefined agreement condition or a weighted consensus using information received from at least two surveillance pods (100).

47. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising correlating data received from one or more additional surveillance pods (100) with locally acquired sensor data; and validating the candidate water-based event based on the correlation of the local and received data.

48. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising acquiring, at the at least one additional surveillance pod, a time-synchronized observation segment within the capture time window and / or toward the bearing sector, correlating the resulting confirmation information with locally acquired sensor data, and validating and refining detection of the candidate water-based event based on the correlated data.

49. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising operating a mast (108) at a first height during a baseline monitoring mode; and operating the mast (108) at a second greater height during an event monitoring or communication relay mode.

50. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein detecting the candidate water-based event comprises detecting at least one of a surface event, a submerged event, a partially submerged event, a motion-based anomaly, a thermal anomaly, an acoustic anomaly, or a security-related event.

51. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising assigning a priority level to the candidate water-based event, and transmitting the authenticated alert token header based on the assigned priority level.

52. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising monitoring motion parameters including at least one of roll variance, pitch variance, angular acceleration, mast-tip displacement, image blur metric, or acoustic signal -to-noise ratio; and controlling operation of the water-based surveillance pod (100) based on the monitored motion parameters.

53. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising transmitting the authenticated alert token header including summary event information, and transmitting the one or more evidence fragments in one or more subsequent stages.

54. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein transmitting the authenticated alert token header and the one or more evidence fragments comprises adjusting transmission based on at least one of link quality, available power, or network conditions.

55. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein the authenticated alert token header further comprises a repl ay -protection value including a nonce, a monotonic counter, or both.

56. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, wherein the cryptographic reference is derived from or corresponds to at least one hash value, message authentication code, or digital signature associated with the one or more evidence fragments.

57. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising controlling operation of at least one sensor based on the monitored motion parameters.

58. A method (300) for stabilizing a water-based surveillance pod (100), the method (300) comprising:deploying a plurality of flap assemblies (112) outwardly from a hull (102) of the water-based surveillance pod (100) such that the flap assemblies (112) are positioned at or proximate a water surface;deploying a ballast stabilizing module (116) below the hull (102); introducing water into a ballast chamber (118) to lower a center of mass of the water-based surveillance pod (100);monitoring motion parameters of the water-based surveillance pod (100) using an inertial sensing arrangement (138); andcontrolling extension of a mast (108) based on the monitored motion parameters;wherein:deployment of the plurality of flap assemblies (112) and the ballast stabilizing module (116) establishes a vertically spaced stabilization arrangement of the water-based surveillance pod (100); andthe mast (108) is extended only when the monitored motion parameters are within a predefined stability range.

59. The method (300) as claimed in claim 58, further comprising deploying the plurality of flap assemblies (112) and deploying and / or filling the ballast stabilizing module (116) before permitting extension of the mast (108).

60. The method (300) as claimed in claim 58, wherein introducing water into the ballast chamber (118) lowers the center of mass of the water-based surveillance pod (100) relative to the plurality of flap assemblies (112).

61. The method (300) as claimed in claim 58, wherein monitoring the motion parameters comprises monitoring at least one of roll variance, pitch variance, angular acceleration, mast-tip displacement, image bur metric, or acoustic signal-to-noise ratio.

62. The method (300) as claimed in claim 58, further comprising: retracting the mast (108) when at least one of the motion parameters exceeds a predefined threshold.

63. The method (300) as claimed in claim 58, further comprising:removing water from the ballast chamber (118);moving the ballast stabilizing module (116) toward the hull (102); and moving the plurality of flap assemblies (112) to a stowed position adjacent to the hull (102).

64. The method (300) as claimed in claim 58, further comprising adjusting at least one of flap position, ballast level, or ballast module position in response to the monitored motion parameters.

65. The method (300) as claimed in claim 58, wherein deploying the plurality of flap assemblies (112) comprises positioning through-flow cavities (114) to permit water flow therethrough during relative motion between the pod (100) and surrounding water.

66. A water-based surveillance network (400) comprising:a plurality of water-based surveillance pods (100), distributed over a monitored region; anda receiver (200) in communication with the plurality of water-based surveillance pods (100);wherein a first water-based surveillance pod (100A) is arranged to detect a candidate water-based event based on locally acquired sensor data and transmit, to one or more neighboring water-based surveillance pods (100B, 100C), a hypothesis message associated with the candidate water-based event, the hypothesis message including at least one of an event location, a bearing sector, a capture time window, a predicted region of interest, or a predicted trajectory;wherein:the one or more neighboring water-based surveillance pods (100B, 100C) are arranged to acquire corresponding sensor data within the capture time window and / or toward the bearing sector and to transmit confirmation information to the first water-based surveillance pod (100A) and / or the receiver (200); andwherein:the first water-based surveillance pod (100 A) validates and refines detection of the candidate water-based event based on correlation of the locallyacquired sensor data and the confirmation information received from the one or more neighboring water-based surveillance pods (100B, 100C).

67. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein the first water-based surveillance pod (100 A) confirms the candidate water-based event when a predefined agreement condition or a weighted consensus based on information received from at least two neighboring surveillance pods is satisfied.

68. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein one of the plurality of water-based surveillance pods (100) is dynamically selected as a relay pod based on at least one of an energy level, communication link quality, stability condition, or proximity to the receiver (200).

69. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein the relay pod extends a mast (108) to increase communication range70. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein the plurality of water-based surveillance pods (100) are spatially distributed to provide overlapping monitoring coverage over the monitored region.

71. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein event information and confirmation information transmitted between the plurality of water-based surveillance pods (100) are encrypted.

72. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein data received from the one or more neighboring water-based surveillance pods (100B, 100C) is used to refine location, classification, or confidence of the candidate water-based event.

73. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein routing of event-related data through the plurality of water-based surveillance pods (100) is prioritized based on severity or confidence of the candidate water -based event.

74. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein confirmation of the candidate water-based event is determined based on information received from at least two neighboring surveillance pods within the capture time window.

75. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein the relay pod extends the mast (108) only to a lowest permissible relay height satisfying a target communication criterion and a stability limit.

76. The water-based surveillance network (400) as claimed in claim 66, wherein the target communication criterion comprises at least one of received signal strength, link margin, signal -to-noise ratio, packet error rate, successful acknowledgement rate, or measured throughput.

77. The method (200) as claimed in claim 34, further comprising forwarding event information through an intermediate surveillance pod (100) and appending relay metadata indicative of forwarding identity, forwarding time, or both.

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