Patent ID: 8418642

Claim:
An unmanned submersible vehicle for use in a body of liquid having a top surface and in air overlying the top surface, the vehicle comprising: a hull having first and second opposed ends, the hull including a first hull portion adjacent the first end and a second hull portion adjacent the second end, wherein the hull is elongated and defines a longitudinal axis; an integral antenna disposed within the first hull portion; a mass distribution system including a mass member within the hull, the mass distribution system being operable to move the mass member along the longitudinal axis away from and toward the antenna; and an antenna positioning system configured to reorient the hull from a transit position to a signal position, wherein, when the hull is in the signal position: the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the second hull portion a greater vertical distance than when the hull is in the transit position; the first hull portion and the antenna are disposed above the top surface and in the air while at least the second hull portion remains submerged in the body of liquid; and the antenna is disposed entirely in the hull and is operative to emit signals through the air above the top surface without obstruction by the body of liquid and/or to receive signals through the air above the top surface without obstruction by the body of liquid, wherein the signals are emitted and/or received by the antenna within the hull.