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SeaSoar is the world's leading open ocean towed undulating data acquisition vehicle

click below 

Video footage of SeaSoar in action

Applications Features Product Description Specification
Winches Deck Units Overview of all vehicles (pdf)
Photographs
Fact Sheet (pdf)

Applications

Product Description

Oceanographic data gathering for:
Ecosystem health monitoring
Real-time collection of oceanographic data
Fisheries Research
Military oceanography
Upper ocean dynamics
EEZ monitoring

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Features

Highly stable, reliable and robust vehicle with proven hydrodynamic characteristics.
Established hydrodynamic design

Large payload capacity with excellent accessibility to instrumentation
Versatile choice of instrumentation
Wide tow speed range (9  to 12 knots)
Undulation depth range from 0 to 500m
PC based operating system
Custom configurations
Generates its own power for vehicle control
Real-time vehicle control with manual override
Emergency override command for critical situations
Bottom Information System
'At Sea' training provided

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
Combination of:  CTD, Fluorimeter, Transmissometer, Nephelometer, Bioluminescence, Irradiance meter, Nitrate/Nitrate sensor,  Plankton Sampler, and SeaWifs bands sensors

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Specification

  SeaSoar Body   

Length:

2m

Weight (including hydraulic unit, excluding sensors:     In Air, 

150kg

Height:

0.98m

             

 

Width:

1.60m

 

 

   Operating Profile   

Control:

Profile input at deck unit for automatic control of wings or manual over-ride

Depth Range:

0 to 500m faired cable (0 to 100m unfaired) typically

Towing Speed:

9  to 12 knots

Maximum rate of change of depth

+/- 3m/s (faired cable) +/- 1m/s (unfaired cable). Payload dependent

  Engineering Details   

Flight Programme:

CFlight

Wing servo:

Moog analogue control with depth sensor feedback loop

Materials:

Strengthened glass fibre reinforced body; Stainless steel frame &  towing yoke

 Support Systems   

Winch:

Dedicated winch & cable system is required. Users individual requirements dictates type of winch. 

Cable:

Rochester 7-H-314AXX (high strength armour) or equivalent. 

Fairing:

Indal Technologies Flexnose(R) fairing is recommended for  increased depth and undulation range performance

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SeaSoar In Action!

I can fly! Get me out of here, its wet!
Help!
Look at the size of that wave! My feet are wet now!

All instruments& support systems can be supplied by Chelsea Technologies Group Ltd

In view of our continual improvement, the designs and specifications of our products may vary from those described.


Chelsea Technologies Group Ltd 
55 Central Avenue, West Molesey,
Surrey, KT8 2QZ, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8481 9000    Fax: +44 (0)20 8941 9319
Email: sales@chelsea.co.uk

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