Autoprobe: A Free-Floating Mid-Water Observational Platform for Oceanographic Studies of Temperature and Pressure

摘要

Oceanographic measurements are generally taken from ships, moored buoys, deep submersibles or aircraft. There is a need for an autonomous, mid-water, observational platform that is capable of stabilizing at any pre-determined depth. The Autoprobe was conceived and designed to be such an instrument. The main consideration described in the design of a free floating observational platform was to make it capable of changing its depth, by changing its density. An electronic control system and a variable displacement system were designed to fulfill this objective. Other design considerations discussed were temperature and pressure compensation, telemetry, packaging, ballasting, energy sources, safety devices, launch, recovery and shipboard handling techniques, and the necessity of using low powered circuits. Power for the variable displacement system was derived from compressed Nitrogen gas and the use of scuba regulators. The instrument can be easily checked and maintained. An extensive program of tests occurred and are reported for the Autoprobe which started with tethered shallow water tests and concluded with untethered deep ocean tests. During this series of tests the Autoprobe was constantly being modified for optimum performance. (Author)