Self-charging autonomous submersible vessel

An autonomous wave-energy-powered vessel, comprising:

• a chamber configured to contain a quantity of air and water having a pressure of more than one atmosphere;
• a water tube having an open first end outside of the chamber, and an open second end inside of the chamber, and further having a reduced inner cross-sectional area adjacent the second end;
• an air management system configured at a first opening in the chamber for controlling a quantity of air within the chamber;
• a water management system configured at a second opening in the chamber for controlling a quantity of water in the chamber;
• an energy recovery system for converting and storing electrical energy from water exiting the chamber;
• a plurality of thrust generators mounted to the vessel and configured to move at least a portion of the vessel in water;
• a first control system cooperating with the plurality of thrust generators to establish a position and an orientation of the vessel;
• and
• a second control system for operating the air management system and water management system to establish a preferred buoyancy of the vessel.

A submersible repositionable wave engine, comprising:

• a buoy configured to rise and fall under an influence of a body of water;
• a hollow tube depending from the buoy and having a water ingress/egress mouth at a lower end and a water discharge spout at an upper end, and further comprising an interior including a wall defining a water accelerating surface adapted to eject water through the water discharge spout in response to an increasing hydrodynamic pressure within the interior of the hollow tube;
• a water collection reservoir in fluid communication with the water discharge spout;
• an air pocket compartment in fluid communication with the water collection reservoir;
• a first effluent pipe extending from the water collection reservoir to the body of water for diverting at least a portion of water collected in the water collection reservoir to the body of water;
• a first electrical energy generator for converting an energy of a portion of water in the first effluent pipe into electrical energy;
• an air release valve for releasing air from the air pocket compartment;
• a submergence control system configured to open the air release valve;
• a thruster for adjusting an underwater position of the submersible wave engine;
• a battery adapted to actuate the thruster;
• wherein the first electrical energy generator is configured to charge the battery when the submersible repositionable wage engine rises and falls under the influence of waves;
• and
• wherein the submersible repositionable wave engine is adapted to submerge underwater when air is released from the air pocket compartment.