ScanFish ROCIO Multi-Purpose Remotely Operated Towed Vehicle (ROTV) for University of Delaware Research Vessel R/V HUGH R. SHARP
Abstract
The University of Delaware is one of the few institutions in the U.S. that provide a Scan-Fish undulating CTD (now referred to as Remotely Operated Towed Vehicle (ROTV)) foroceanographic researchers utilizing UNOLS vessels. This proposal requests funding to purchase the latest technology ROTV/Scan-Fish to support proposed Office of Naval Research funded projects aboard the HUGH R SHARP. The existing Scan-Fish system is legacy technology built in 2000 and upgraded in 2012 with funding from the National Science Foundation. The legacy system remains operational and will be maintained as a backup system on ROTV missions.A Scan Fish / ROTV is a multipurpose, wing shaped housing that is towed behind a vessel with a matched winch and conductor cable system. The Scan-Fish provides continuous, real-time monitoring and acquisition of physical oceanography data. The system is programed, and continuously monitored and adjusted on the fly, to swim down to a certain altitude off the seafloor and rise to an altitude below the water surface at a frequency programmed by the operator. The housing contains a CTD system or other compatible sensor(s) required by the research team. The data and Scan-Fish flight information is streamed through the cable to the vessel technician and science team.The physical oceanography data sets collected by an undulating, towed CTD is exponentially greater than a vessel making individual CTD casts at set sampling stations using a cable and CTD rosette. As the demand for more detailed datasets of the water column continues to increase, maintaining ROTV capability and expertise in the UNOLS fleet is very important. Significant use of the HUGH SHARP and Scan Fish system has been requested by a PI selected to prepare a full proposal for Task Force Ocean funding within ONR.The R/V HUGH R. SHARP is a member of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Academic Research Fleet. Primary funding for the vessel has been from both the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). A new ROTV system will improve the vessels capability to provide researchers higher quality and quantity of physical oceanography data, thus enabling better value for research dollars spent.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 20, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012588
Entities
People
- Jon Swallow
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Delaware