Bowen Martin F.

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Bowen
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Martin F.
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  • Technical Report
    A passive capture latch for ODYSSEY-class AUVs
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1998-06-12) Bowen, Martin F.
    Under subcontract to the Massachusetts Institute of Techology's (MIT) Sea Grant Autonomous Ocean Sampling Network (AOSN) program, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution's Deep Submergence Laboratory (WHOI-DSL) produced a passive capture latch for ODYSSEY -class autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The latch is an all-titanium, split tine device, shock-mounted to the bow of the AUV. When the AUV concludes a survey mission and returns to a moored, midwater docking station, the latch leads the AUV's approach and is the first device to collide with the station's vertical docking pole. Latching to the pole is an entirely passive event requiring only forward motion of the AUV. A positive capture indication generated by proximity switches mounted on the device initiates AUV power and data transfer servicing by the station. Unlatching action requires one revolution of a latch motor cam and a brief backing command to the AUV thruster. The possibility of system malfunction was considered in latch design. If for any reason the latched vehicle canot perform normal unlatching behavior, or the station fails, the latch defaults by securing the AUV to the moored station indefinitely. Two WHOI AUV latches have been used successfully on three offshore engineering test cruises.
  • Technical Report
    Elevators - autonomous transporters for deep sea benthic sample recovery
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2000-01) Bowen, Martin F. ; Bernard, P. J. ; Gleason, D. E. ; Whitcomb, Louis L.
    Two classes of sample recovery devices have been fabricated for use with the Jason deep diving remotely operated vehicle (ROV). One class includes custom-built, autonomous vertical transporters (AVTs) that are capable of raising numerous benthic samples and other payloads to the ocean's surface independent of the sampling RAOV. AVTs are more commonly referred to as sample "elevators". Elevators are inexpensive to construct and can be deployed and recovered many times during the course of a single ROV dive in order to reduce wear and tear on the more expensive ROV. A second class includes a range of custom-built end effectors and articulated scoops that ROV operators mount onto the vehicle's manipulator and sampling cradle according to required sampling tasks. This report describes the design, fabrication, operation, and navigational tracking of these various non-destructive sampling devices. A ballast and flotation spreadsheeet is provided, which allows operators to customize each elevator deployment and sample recovery scenario while the ROV continues its work on the benthos.
  • Technical Report
    Loose-tube neutral tether fiber optic termination procedure
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 2001-06) Bowen, Martin F.
    Neutral tethers for unmanned underwater vehicles may contain a bundle of single-mode, optical fibers that are protected inside flexible stainless steel tubing. To date the author knows of no commercially available systems or kits that substitute for the following procedure, which is a step-by-step method for terminating electro-optical, loose-tube tether assemblies when used in oil-compensated, underwater applications. This procedure alone will not result in a load-bearing assembly. It assumes that the tether's outer jacket and synthetic strain-relief layer have already passed through and been terminated to an unspecified, customized, load-bearing assembly. The procedure addresses in detail the preparation of three optical fibers and three copper conductors for repeated make-and-break installations into a vehicle's primary junction box. The user will need a large, clean workbench, plenty of light and a variety of specialized tools, most of which are listed. A spreadsheet is provided that describes the parts required and suggests appropriate vendors or other sources. The entire procedure can take up to four hours to complete per tether end.
  • Technical Report
    Ultimate ocean depth packaging for a digital ring laser gyroscope
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1998-07-30) Bowen, Martin F.
    A Honeywell GG 1320AN Digital Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG), typically an aviation sensor, has been adapted for use as part of a navigation package rated to ocean depths of 6,000 meters. Researchers and engineers at the Deep Submergence Laboratory (DSL) of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) designed a high-density instrument package around the basic RLG. The integrated instrument is modular and field serviceable. It includes a chassis, housing, a Crossbow 6-axis dynamic measurement unit (DMU), battery backup, power regulation, support circuitry and robust interfaces. A pressure-proof titanium case and non-corroding accessories ensure that the RLG will remain unaffected by prolonged immersion in seawater. Associated mounting bracketry allow the housing to be axially registered alongside the navigation suites of various deep diving WHOI assets, or with any host platform capable of caring a 25 pound payload. Primary RLG platforms will be the manned deep submergence vehicle ALVIN, the unmanned remotely operated vehicle JASON, and the unmanned autonomous vehicle ABE. As an extremely accurate yaw rate measuring device, the RLG will provide navigation data far more reliable and precise that has been available to scientists in the past. The WHOI RLG has been used successfully on one JASON cruise.
  • Technical Report
    A deep sea docking station for ODYSSEY class autonomous underwater vehicles
    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1998-06-10) Bowen, Martin F. ; Peters, Donald B.
    Under subcontract to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Sea Grant Autonomous Ocean Sampling Network (AOSN) program, engineers and researchers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) designed, fabricated and operated a deep sea Docking Station for ODYSSEY-class autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The docking station provides shelter as well as power transfer and data exchange services for an AUV that is between autonomous midwater missions. The Station is integrated into the main tension member of a deep sea mooring system. A large subsea flotation sphere supports the mass of the Station above the seafoor. A surface expression connected by an umbilcal to the Station was capable of bi-directional satellite or radio frequency communications. Primary subsystems of the Docking Station described in this report include a dock controller with multi-sensor support, long-duration battery packs, a docking pole with a moving carage, an inductive link for power and data transfer, and information about how the Station was deployed, operated and recovered.