A SHIPBOARD OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA PROCESSING AND CONTROL SYSTEM
Abstract
In June of 1962 a digital computer (IBM 1710) was placed aboard the Research Vessel CHAIN of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for real-time reduction of measurements of the earth's gravity and magnetic fields. This system has made it possible to automatically sample, compute, and record data concerning the ship's heading and speed, latitude and longitude, water depth, gravity in terms of total acceleration, free-air and Bouguer anomalies, and the magnetic field of the earth. The system was expanded in November 1963 to provide on-line plotting of bathymetric, gravity anomaly, and magnetic field profiles; computer control of gravity meter spring tension; processing of surface temperature measurements and ocean sound velocity measurements; display of ship's position and numerical data at remote stations aboard the ship and malfunction detection and alarm message generation. Experiments are being made using three remote input/output typewriters to improve collection, dissemination, and availability of scientific and navigational information logged during the course of a cruise. Three magnetic-disk storage units are used for data and program storage and provide the ability to merge real-time, on-line computations with background off-line computations (time-sharing).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0639352
Entities
People
- C. O. Bowin
- E. Ungar
- J. R. Madigan
- R. Bernstein
Organizations
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution