expensive but per bit of information it is not; second, communica- 

 tion satellites appear to be particularly promising as interrogators 

 because low flying types, such as the Courier, which operates at 

 altitudes of between 300 and 400 miles, has recording equipment 

 on board, and can receive RF that buoys can transmit. Lower 

 power requirements improve reliability. As Admiral Stephan 

 mentioned, high reliability is vital. This should be underscored 

 and underscored again. An installed telemetering buoy represents 

 a substantial investment. If sonne little component fails, the whole 

 thing is useless! This puts the same kind of reliability concept on 

 components that we face in our space program. My ideas represent 

 only a small sample of new concepts and needs. 



We need various types of recorders, say magnetic tape, punch 

 paper -- you name it -- for use in instrument buoys and at remote 

 stations. These must stand very severe conditions. There are 

 angular accelerations to be encountered, vertical accelerations 

 and long-time operations in an adverse environnnent. We cannot 

 hope to telemeter all information so we must have suitable and 

 reliable recorders. 



Then, of course, this matter of getting data in the first place, 

 the matter of data acquisition. This, if we may focus on it, is our 

 greatest weakness -- the lack of adequate transducers or sensors 

 for use in the marine environment. I have no pat answer or 

 suggestions. The requirements of high reliability, long life, and 

 accuracy make this truly a real challenge. I can think of few 

 transducers that satisfy these requirements. This whole field 

 needs a great deal of work, partly because it has not been 

 emphasized in the past. Most of the present work in sensors has 

 gone to fields unrelated to this environment. We have tried to 

 convert instruments to oceanography and use them, but this has 

 not been satisfactory. 



I mentioned earlier the use of an expendable optical device for 

 measuring water transparency. The principle of expendability 

 should be extended. I think you have design and inspiration capa- 

 bility within your own companies, within your own minds -- ideas 

 that can be very useful. The value of any expendable device should 

 be based on its ability to get more and better data, at less cost. 

 This doesn't necessarily meaun the instrument system itself need 

 be so cheap, providing it gets the data. Reliability and size are 

 important. We can't hope to make something very large if it is 

 going to be expended in quantity; logistics is a factor of cost. 



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