Battery Power Management and Control
mode of 80 μA. (Cost: $2.48) Photo: AddicoreQuiescent current during light-load or standby modes is important to consider when efficiency is a priority. Power to a voltage regulator may also be cycled on a schedule using a microcontroller controlled MOSFET.MicrocontrollerA microcontroller is a programmable computer on a chip that offers intelligent control of a system. They are small and power efficient. Examples include Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP32, and others. Power output is limited. An Arduino I/O pin can output 5v @ 20 mA max. Make Magazine publishes an annual Boards Guide that describes dozens
Microscopic Wave Machine Mimics Ocean Waves
device amplifies the nonlinearities that drive these complex behaviours by more than 100,000 times. Being able to study these effects at chip scale – with quantum-level precision – could transform how we understand and model them.”Bowen said the UQ development opens a path to programmable hydrodynamics. “Because the geometry and optical fields in this system are manufactured using the same techniques as those used for semiconductor chips, we can engineer the fluid’s effective gravity, dispersion, and nonlinearity with extraordinary precision.“Future experiments
Marport Launches New Pro NX Sensor Platform
trawling operations. The Marport Pro NX platform includes a suite of upgraded sensors—door, net, speed, seine, and catch sensors—designed to provide more precise and reliable trawl data directly to the helm.At the core of the Pro NX line is a new sensor design, which is now more compact, programmable and field-efficient. Catch Pro NX housings now feature a quick-release mechanism that allows the sensor to be removed from its housing for charging, while the housing itself remains secured to the net. In addition:Catch Pro NX sensors now offer double the battery life compared to previous
Underwater Vehicle Concept Inspired by Golf Balls
the ocean while conducting surveillance, mapping new areas or collecting data on water conditions.Golf ball dimples cut through pressure drag—the resistance force an object meets when moving through a fluid—propelling the ball 30% further than a smooth ball on average.“A dynamically programmable outer skin on an underwater vehicle could drastically reduce drag while eliminating the need for protruding appendages like fins or rudders for maneuvering. By actively adjusting its surface texture, the vehicle could achieve precise maneuverability with enhanced efficiency and control,&rdquo
Automated Winches with Wireless Charging & Comms for SVP / CTD
Ocean Scientific International Ltd (OSIL), in conjunction with AML Oceanographic Ltd., have developed a wireless charging and data transfer system for their Micro Profiling Winches, designed to be used seamlessly with an AML-3 LGR instrument.The compact and programmable winches are designed to equip USV systems with the ability to collect SVP or CTD profiles from user specified depths during live operations, enabling surveys to be carried more quickly and cover a wider area in a given deployment. The winches are fitted with an instrument capture mechanism which allows for seamless recharging on
MTR100: Underwater Cameras, Lights and Ocean Landers
on a circuit board, providing an integrated, small volume design. You’ll find a variety of choices, including resolution, auto-exposure, sensitivity, frame rate, video output, color/black-and-white, and others. Some are specifically made to interface with Arduino, Raspberry Pie, or other programmable boards. Prices vary, but start as low as $6. Many have the CMOS imager dead center on a square mother board, perfect for fitting into a cylinder. A shallow water housing can be as simple as a PVC cap with a flat acrylic viewport bonded to the front as often seen in the MATE ROV contest.A
New Tech Frontiers for Ocean Gliders
we were on so could time stamp the data and had good corroboration. We could also see machinery start up noise (in the data). In parallel, we developed signal processing, as part of a three-year knowledge transfer partnership with the University of Bath, using a low power, low footprint FPGA (field programmable gate array) to process data in real time.”They then looked at the initial four hydrophones and processed the data to beam form and get three beams – forward, aft and broadside, to get automated detections – proving this capability. The idea is that information is then sent to
Lander Lab #4: Underwater Releases
, the system has accumulated tens of thousands of release cycles.Figure 13. Featuring the fastest release of any release system, DesertStar’s ACR-1 opens in under a 1/10 sec. (Photo Desert Star Systems)One can imagine the combination of a flash wire release, pressure sensor, and programmable controller for bottle closure that would allow the collection of water samples at precise depths by a free-ascending lander, now a profiling vehicle. A series of CTD casts could occur quickly with a small number of untethered free ascent rosettes.PressureThe trigger is pressure. This
Vestdavit Inks Deal for Davit Systems for NOAA RV Newbuilds
in different marine environments across the globe spanning shallow coastal and continental shelf waters to deep ocean conditions.The davit system incorporates motion compensation and safety features such as independent dual winches with independent constant tension, shock absorbers, guide arms and a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) for digital remote control.Independent dual winches can operate separately or synchronized, and each winch can independently provide constant tension, which is “a really advantageous feature when recovering boats in really rough weather”, according to Oding.Shock
December 2025
