A radio-controlled buoy for ocean surveys.
The Hydrographic Department is now working to develop a radio controlled buoy for ocean surveys, which it hopes will accomplish two things，among others. First, such a buoy will make possible surveys of waters surrounding submarine volcanoes, which are usually very difficult with existing manned survey vessels. Second, the buoy is expected to reduce survey cost, as major part of the procedures will be automated. The development of a radio-controlled buoy is under way on a five- year plan which covers the period from fiscal 1983 to 1987. Under the plan, the project comes into two phases: the first phase for the three-year period from fiscal 1983 to 1985 for designing of a buoy and its production, and the second phase for the two-year period from fiscal 1986 to 1987 for verification of its capabilities and possible improvement. The radio controlled buoy is conceived as consisting of four major systems; (1) the navigation system, (2) the self-guard system, (3) the body and (4) the data acquisition and data transmission system. On the first phase of development, works to design and produce these four systems were being carried out separately, and concurrently. After fully developed, they were consolidated into a complete unit in the end of fiscal 1985. The radio-controlled buoy is to carry out six ocean survey functions; (1) sounding {2) measuring sea surface temperature and (3) its conductivity (4) ocean waves (5) water sampling and (6) XBT. Obtained data are recorded on a cartridge tape，And at the same time, they are transmitted to the mother ship, survey vessel 「SHOYO」belonging to the Hydrographic Department. Equipment for water sampling and XBT can be operated at any time, responding to the directions from the mother ship or to pre-established programs. Communications between the mother ship and the buoy are connected through the VHF for static images made of the self-guard system，and through the HF for surveys and control data. Urgent control data such as emergency stop can be transmitted through the VHF as well. It is estimated that the distances for data transmission will be more than 20 kilometers for the VHF, and 50 kilometers for the HF. Now four systems are consolidated into the radio controlled buoy. Its operations will be checked on the seas, and the results of verification tests will be described next time
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Contribution biblioteca |
| Language: | Japanese |
| Published: |
1987
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/1834/16155 |
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