Remotely-controlled observation vehicle for observing swimmers

A vehicle, comprising:

• a hull that is symmetrical about a transverse midline of the vehicle and has respective first and second ends that are spaced from one another and are mirror images of one another;
• an above-water camera mount mounted on and extending upwardly from the hull, the above-water camera mount having one or more above-water cameras;
• a below-water camera mount mounted on and extending downwardly from the hull, the below-water camera mount having
• a below-water vertically-extending strut,
• an observation pod at a distal end of the below-water strut,
• one or more below-water cameras disposed within the observation pod, and
• a pair of support struts that are mounted on the hull and extend downwardly below water, joining and supporting the below-water vertically-extending strut;
• first and second propulsion systems attached to the hull proximate to the first and second ends, respectively, symmetrically about the transverse midline of the hull, the first and second propulsion systems adapted to drive the vehicle through water;
• first and second steering systems attached to the hull symmetrically about the transverse midline of the hull in association with the first and second propulsion systems, respectively;
• a communications system adapted to (1) receive control signals relating to speed and direction of the vehicle, and (2) transmit image or video data from the one or more above-water cameras and the one or more below-water cameras;
• and
• a control unit adapted to control the first and second propulsion systems and the first and second steering systems in accordance with the control signals and to control transmission of the image or video data.

A system for observing swimmers, comprising:

• a remotely-controlled observation vehicle including a hull,
• an above-water camera mount mounted on and extending upwardly from the hull, the above-water camera mount having one or more above-water cameras,
• a below-water camera mount mounted on and extending downwardly from the hull, the below-water camera mount having
• a below-water vertically-extending strut,
• an observation pod at a distal end of the below-water strut,
• one or more below-water cameras disposed within the observation pod, and
• a pair of support struts that are mounted on the hull and extend downwardly below water, joining and supporting the below-water vertically-extending strut,
• a first propulsion system attached to the hull, the first propulsion system adapted to drive the vehicle through water,
• a first steering system attached to the hull in association with the first propulsion system, and
• a communications system adapted to (1) receive control signals relating to speed and direction of the vehicle, and (2) transmit image or video data from the one or more above-water cameras and the one or more below-water cameras, and
• a control unit adapted to control the first propulsion system and the first steering system in accordance with the control signals and to control transmission of the image or video data;
• a controller adapted to provide the control signals relating to the speed and the direction of the vehicle;
• and
• a data review station adapted to receive the image or video data.