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| Specification | Fact Sheet (pdf) | |
| Datasheet (pdf) | Overview of all vehicles (pdf) |
Video footage of SeaSoar in action |
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| Applications | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Oceanographic data gathering for:
The SeaSoar system has been designed as a flexible
package. The standard system comprises the underwater vehicle, hydraulic
unit, towing bridle, deck control unit and PC based 'SeaFlight' SeaSoar
Flight Control Software and all relevant handbooks. The sensor payload
can be designed to meet individual customer's requirements.
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SeaSoar is a highly versatile towed undulating vehicle used to deploy a wide range of oceanographic monitoring equipment. Developed by Chelsea Technologies Group from an original design by the Institute of Oceanographic Sciences (now the Southampton Oceanography Centre, UK) it has a proven record of reliability over many thousands of miles of operation. SeaSoar has undergone a number of revisions over the last ten years, but recent major re-designs to the deck control unit and hydraulic unit have resulted in a much improved SeaSoar Mark II. SeaSoar is capable of undulating from the surface to 500 metres at tow speeds of up to 12 knots (with faired cable) following a controlled and adjustable undulating path through the ocean. Maximum depth achieved is dependent upon system configuration. The PC based SeaSoar Deck Control Unit onboard the ship enables the operator to have real-time computer control over the vehicle’s flight profile together with the storage and display of the flight parameters. Sampled data, obtained from sensors mounted in SeaSoar, are transmitted to the towing vessel for processing, display and storage via a multi-core tow cable. The high data rate and versatility of sensor and sampling packages make SeaSoar an effective and productive platform for large scale data collection. The payload area is located within a stainless steel, deep-sided frame which provides strength and volume for instrumentation installation. Quick release stainless steel panels, top and bottom, can be removed without tools and give maximum possible accessibility to the payload. Typical
Instrumentation Payload |
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SeaSoar Body |
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Length: |
2m |
Weight (including hydraulic unit, excluding sensors: In Air, |
150kg |
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Height: |
0.98m |
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Width: |
1.60m |
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Operating Profile |
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Control: |
Profile input at deck unit for automatic control of wings or manual over-ride |
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Depth Range: |
0 to 500m faired cable (0 to 100m unfaired) typically |
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Towing Speed: |
9 to 12 knots |
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Maximum rate of change of depth |
+/- 3m/s (faired cable) +/- 1m/s (unfaired cable). Payload dependent |
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Engineering Details |
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Flight Programme: |
CFlight |
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Wing servo: |
Moog analogue control with depth sensor feedback loop |
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Materials: |
Strengthened glass fibre reinforced body; Stainless steel frame & towing yoke |
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Support Systems |
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Winch: |
Dedicated winch & cable system is required. Users individual requirements dictates type of winch. |
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Cable: |
Rochester 7-H-314AXX (high strength armour) or equivalent. |
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Fairing: |
Indal Technologies Flexnose(R) fairing is recommended for increased depth and undulation range performance |
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All instruments& support systems can be supplied by
Chelsea Technologies Group Ltd |
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