Abstract:
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.
