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

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

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. What is ABIISS ?

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

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

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

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

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

Tattletale Model 8v2 Size (inches)2 x 3 x 0.5 Weight (oz.)1 Processor68332 Data capacity (RAM)256K/1M Additional capacityPCMCIA Flash EEPRO256K MA-D converter12-bit Analog channels8 Max sampling rate (Hz)100K Digital I/O linesup to 25 Minimum current<200µA typical Peak current150mA TPU UART baud rates (others available): The 14 TPU lines can be set to any standard rate up to 500K Voltage input7 to 15V

XBee-PRO RF Module Physical Properties Size: in x in (2.438 cm x cm) Weight: 0.10 oz (3g) Antenna : SMA or wired whip antenna Power Supply voltage: XBee-PRO: VDC Transmit current: 45 mA 3.3 V) normal mode Receive current: 55 mA 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 Kbps Operating frequency: 900Mhz

Mechanical Length mm Width: 56.2 mm Height: 13 mm Weight: 117g Transceiver is a small, lower-cost, Iridium- manufactured OEM module that can transmit up to 270 bytes DC Power Interface Main input voltage: Nominal: 5.0 V DC ± 0.5V DC Peak input 5V (maximum): 1.5 A Input 5V (average) 350mA Input standby 5V (average): 66 mA Iridium 9601 SBD

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 ABIISS with 18 data pods

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. First Open Ocean Test J ABIISS wth URI-PIES Using CTD cable to lower ABIISS down to the bottom

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

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 Three Open Ocean Tests in FY2010-FY2011 ABIISS wth RDI 300kHz ADCP

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. Three Open Ocean Tests in FY2010-FY2011

Testing the Deployment At the bottom with floatsSuspended below the surface

Testing the Release Mechanism Releasing floats Realising data pod

Data pods after deployment Data pod frame after deployment 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.

Testing the data pods down to ~600 meters Preparing the data pods on deck Just before it was lowered down to 600m 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 $70K 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 (~750m) deployment