Buoyancy Controlled Micro Floats (µFloats) for Spatially Resolved Current Measurements
Abstract
Buoyancy Controlled Micro Floats (~~Floats) for Spatially Resolved Current MeasurementsWe propose to develop and acquire specialized instrumentation to enable distributed, persistent,diverse, and controllable exploration of marine environments. The microFloat (~Float) platformoffers a revolutionary approach to rapidly explore dynamic marine environments and collect valuable ~world-model~ data at a fraction the cost of traditional methods. Our approach is to adapt buoyancy-driven vehicle technology for use in a networked array of low-cost platforms that rapidly collect spatially-distributed measurements in a time-varying environment.This proposal seeks to build a swarm of low-cost, mobile, networked sensor systems comprised of30 ~Floats and 5 supporting Acoustic Surface Wave Instrument Floats with Tracking (A-SWIFTs). TheA-SWIFTs are surface drifters with onboard GPS and synchronized hydrophones used to acousticallytrack the ~Floats during site survey. ~Float deployments will provide high-resolution, site specific measurements of turbulent currents and wave motion that are critical in developing world models for use in autonomous system mission-planning and characterization of expeditionary system deployment sites.Through the use of auxiliary sensors such as salinity probes, hydrophones, or cameras, the ~Floats are capable of collecting a wide variety of data in dynamic marine environments with high spatial resolution. The proposed ~Floats platforms are a key tool for Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) resource mapping at tidal and wave energy sites. This would enhance the resource and device modeling effort currently in progress at the University of Washington and sponsored by the Office of Naval Research and Naval Facilities Engineering Command. MHK technologies can extend expeditionarymissions, creating a strategic advantage for the US Navy. In situ resource measurements arerequired to implement model results in the field (e.g., for expeditionary deployments of marine energy conversion systems). Further, site specific measurements can reveal resource characteristics not present in ocean models and inform system deployment locations [1, 2]. This is particularly thecase for the characteristics of ocean and tidal currents where strong gradients can be present ofsmall (<100 m) spatial scales.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 03, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141712336
Entities
People
- Andrew L Stewart
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Washington