Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory AOML Physical Oceanography

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) Physical Oceanography Division (PHOD) Adaptable Bottom Instrument Information Shuttle System (ABIISS) u. Ulises Rivero

Resources Provided Funding for this development project was provided by the OAR Assistant Administrator's Discretionary Fund (AADF) program, NOAA’s Climate Program Office (CPO)-Climate Observation Division (COD), and NOAA/AOML.

What is ABIISS ? Adaptable Bottom Instrument Information Shuttle System (ABIISS)”, a technology developed by AOML engineers. This system, once fully operational, will allow scientific instruments anchored on the ocean bottom to send their data back via expendable data pods that will release from the ocean floor on a programmable schedule. These data pods will float up to the sea surface and transmit their data back to land via satellite. The system has the potential to save significant amounts of financial and personnel resources by reducing the amount of ship time needed to support and maintain ocean time series measurement sites.

Main Features 1. Can be interfaced to any scientific instrument that has an rs -232 output (can be configured to interface to multiple instruments) 2. Data transmitted to land station via the Iridium satellite network 3. 900 MHz radio frequency underwater communication link 4. Configurable to accommodate up to 18 data pods 5. Expendable & recoverable versions 6. All data pods and controller store data from the start of the deployment

System Overview Oceanographic Instrument Repeater Unit Controller Unit RS-232 RF RF

Recoverable Configuration Oceanographic Instrument Controller Unit RS-232 Repeater Unit RF RF

Expendable Configuration Oceanographic Instrument Controller Unit RS-232 RF Repeater Unit

RF Link Data pod antenna and Controller/Repeater antenna less than. 25“ apart Data pod burn wire release block

Tattletale Model 8 v 2 Size (inches) 2 x 3 x 0. 5 Weight (oz. ) 1 Processor 68332 Data capacity (RAM) 256 K/1 M Additional capacity PCMCIA Flash EEPRO 256 K MA-D converter 12 -bit Analog channels 8 Max sampling rate (Hz) 100 K Digital I/O lines up to 25 Minimum current <200µA typical Peak current 150 m. A TPU UART baud rates (others available): The 14 TPU lines can be set to any standard rate up to 500 K Voltage input 7 to 15 V

XBee-PRO RF Module Physical Properties Size: 0. 960 in x 1. 297 in (2. 438 cm x 3. 294 cm) Weight: 0. 10 oz (3 g) Antenna : SMA or wired whip antenna Power Supply voltage: XBee-PRO: 2. 8 - 3. 4 VDC Transmit current: 45 m. A (@ 3. 3 V) normal mode Receive current: 55 m. A (@ 3. 3 V) Power-down sleep current: <10 µA at 25° C Performance Indoor/Urban range: Up to 300 ft (90 m) Outdoor/RF line-of-sight range: Up to 1 mile Interface data rate: Up to 115. 2 Kbps Operating frequency: 900 Mhz

Iridium 9601 SBD Transceiver is a small, lower-cost, Iridiummanufactured OEM module that can transmit up to 270 bytes Mechanical Length 106. 4 mm Width: 56. 2 mm Height: 13 mm Weight: 117 g DC Power Interface Main input voltage: Nominal: 5. 0 V DC ± 0. 5 V DC Peak input current @ 5 V (maximum): 1. 5 A Input current @ 5 V (average) 350 m. A Input standby current @ 5 V (average): 66 m. A

Data Pod Tube & Controller/Repeater Sphere Dimensions Data Pod Glass Tube: Length : 48” Inside Diameter : 3. 75” Wall Thickness : 0. 375” Data Pod PCB: Length : 16” Width : 2. 5” Controller/Repeater Sphere: Inside Diameter : 16” Wall Thickness : 0. 5” Controller/Repeater PCB: Length : 7” Width : 7”

Conceptual Drawing of ABIISS with 18 data pods

First Open Ocean Test In September , 2009 aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Completed a successful proof-of-concept field-test of a new deep ocean data retrieval system with an URI PIES. The purpose of the cruise was to complete the first open ocean test of the new deep ocean data retrieval system. J Using CTD cable to lower ABIISS down to the bottom ABIISS wth URI-PIES

First Open Ocean Test with URI-PIES Data pod transmitting data via the irdium satellite nework after release ABIISS with URI-PIES an sea bottom

Three Open Ocean Tests in FY 2010 -FY 2011 The purpose of the cruises and test deployments was to evaluate and test different details of the ABIISS package, including both electronic configuration of the system as well as mechanical details of the system design and deployment logistics The first of three test cruises in the Straits of Florida was completed on the 7 th of September, 2010 aboard the R/V Cable. This cruise was completed to address one of the most significant issues regarding the deployment of an ABIISS system, namely how to deploy the large system in such a way that it sinks at a modest rate and settles to the ocean bottom gently ABIISS wth RDI 300 k. Hz ADCP

Three Open Ocean Tests in FY 2010 -FY 2011 The second test cruise was completed on the 14 th of October, 2010 aboard the R/V Virginia K. All aspects of the planned testing were extremely successful. ABIISS was released from the surface and descended to the seafloor without any problems. The data pods all released as programmed, and once they reached the surface the data was transmitted via the Iridium Satellite Network back to land. At the end of the cruise the complete system was retrieved. The third test cruise was on the 18 th of October, 2010 aboard the R/V Virginia K. ABIISS was deployed in shallow water (30’) for the first longer-term deployment. Two data pods were released as programmed and transmitted the data via the Iridium Satellite Network back to land. ABBISS was recovered in January of 2011 after a 3 month deployment. This test confirmed the long-term seal of the data pods – crucial for future longer-term deployments.

Testing the Deployment Suspended below the surface At the bottom with floats

Testing the Release Mechanism Releasing floats Realising data pod

Long Term Deployment in Shallow Water ABIISS was recovered in January of 2011 after a 3 month deployment in shallow water (30'). This test confirmed the long term seal of the data pods which is crucial for longer term deployments in deep-water. Data pods after deployment Data pod frame after deployment

Testing the data pods down to ~600 meters Preparing the data pods on deck Just before it was lowered down to 600 m Using CTD winch for test At the surface after test

Advantages of using ABIISS Preliminary estimates based on the cost of the prototype suggest that the total cost of an ABIISS will augment the cost of the oceanographic instrument by around $70 K for a system with 16 data pods ( that is less than the cost for two days of shiptime on a class-1 reasearch vessel). Data retrievel time interval is pre-programmed by user. Diagnostic information can be transmitted with data string Artificial Intelligence algorithm can be implemented to monitor and control the function of the data pods. Can be modified to adapt to any oceanographic instrument that can send out data via an RS-232 port.

Future Plans Write and test all software modules needed for the ABIISS “controller unit” and Benthos UDB 9000/9400 deck box. Long-term(~6 months) deep ocean (~750 m) deployment