Collaborative Research: Development of an Autonomous Ocean Observatory Node

合作研究：自主海洋观测站节点的开发

• 批准号: 2322492
• 负责人: Harish Krishnamoorthy
• 金额: $ 18.18万
• 依托单位: University of Houston
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-10-01 至 2025-09-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2322492&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Development; Autonomous; Ocean

The demand for observing the ocean beyond the coastlines has led to numerous installations of sub-sea cabled observatories in the last two decades. However, many scientifically-interesting places are too far from shore, thus, are difficult for cables to reach. The vastness of the oceans calls for new technologies to enable similar infrastructure to sense deeper oceans and enhance scientific investigations in seismology, geodesy, ocean chemistry, marine biology, etc. Recently, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), gliders, and seafloor robots and sensors have been utilized to observe and understand these remote ocean regions. However, the lack of supporting infrastructures for these robots and sensor networks has been the bottleneck for sustainable development. Ultimately a versatile and highly capable Autonomous Observatory Node (AON) for the deep ocean is desired to provide power recharging, data communication, and Position, Navigation, and Time (PNT) services to deep sea sensor networks and AUVs. In this project, the investigators will design and prototype a first-phase AON consisting of two subsystems: the underwater acoustic communication subsystem and the Underwater MicroGrid (UMG) subsystem. The acoustic subsystem uses a large number of transducers to receive data from seafloor sensors and AUVs and transfer their data to a surface glider which then relays the data to the Internet. The acoustic subsystem will explore the underwater Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology to provide simultaneous communication and PNT services. The UMG subsystem takes a variety of power sources as input and converts them into electrical power to support both continuous, low-power sensor loads and brief, high-current demanding loads with the acoustic subsystem. Both subsystems will take the Pressure Tolerant Electronic (PTE) approach to design their critical components for enhanced power efficiency and pressure tolerance. The prototypes will be pressure tested at 10,000 psi and ocean tested at 500 m depth. The prototype AON will be first applied to deep ocean sensing and earthquake early detection systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

在过去的二十年中，观察海岸以外的海洋的需求导致了许多次海有线观测值的装置。但是，许多科学开发的地方离海岸太远了，因此电缆很难到达。海洋的广泛要求新技术能够使类似的基础设施感知更深的海洋，并增强地震学，地理学，海洋化学，海洋生物学等方面的科学研究。最近，自主水下车辆（AUVS），闪光器，闪光器和海军河机器人和传感器已利用来观察这些遥远的海洋区域。但是，这些机器人和传感器网络缺乏支持基础设施一直是可持续发展的瓶颈。最终，希望为深海提供多功能且功能强大的自主天文台节点（AON），以向深海传感器网络和AUVS提供电力充电，数据通信以及位置，导航和时间（PNT）服务。在该项目中，研究人员将设计和原型一个由两个子系统组成的第一阶段AON：水下声学通信子系统和水下微电网（UMG）子系统。声学子系统使用大量换能器从海底传感器和AUV接收数据，并将其数据传输到表面滑翔机上，然后将数据传递到Internet。声学子系统将探索水下多输入 - 元素输出（MIMO）技术，以提供同时通信和PNT服务。 UMG子系统采用各种功率来源作为输入，并将其转换为电力，以支持连续的，低功率的传感器负载以及与声学子系统的短暂，高电流苛刻的负载。两个子系统将采用压力耐受性电子（PTE）方法来设计其关键组件，以提高功率效率和压力耐受性。原型将在10,000 psi下进行压力测试，并在500 m深度测试海洋。原型AON将首先应用于深海感应和地震早期检测系统。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响评估标准通过评估来支持的。