Inductive Telemetry on a Deep Ocean Surface Mooring

摘要

A long term engineering test of ocean data telemetry using inductive coupling isbeing performed offshore Bermuda as part of the ONR-sponsored Atlantic Long Term Oceanographic Mooring (ALTOMOOR) program. Inductive modems are general purpose telemetry devices which can be used with standard, plastic-jacketed steel mooring lines to transmit data between instruments in the water column and a receiver in the surface buoy. The advantage of inductive coupling over electrically connected instrumentation is that expensive and unreliable electro-mechanical cables and terminations are not needed to accomplish real time data telemetry. The modems send and receive data via toroids clamped around the wire which act as single turn transformers. Data telemetered up the wire are sent at a rate of 1200 b/s; commands are sent down the wire at 300 b/s. (MM).