capsules proposed as components of the described instruments 

 or instrument systems must be capable of accommodating the 

 standardized sensors and their associated recording or trans- 

 mitting units in the groupings stipulated in the accompanying 

 instrument descriptions. 



Although projected estimates of the numbers which may be 

 utilized have been presented for each instrument or system, in 

 order to acquaint industry with the possible extent of the market, 

 these numbers are obviously a function of: (1) the unit cost of pro- 

 duction models, (2) opportune breakthroughs in the state-of-the- 

 art, (3) budgetary considerations of the various agencies that 

 may comprise the market, and (4) the individual requirements 

 of segments of the national oceanographic community other than 

 those concerned principally with survey operations. 



The following are additional general requirements which 

 inherently apply to all oceanographic instruments or instrunnent 

 systems: 



1. Provision must be included for rapid, accurate, shipboard 

 calibration. 



Z. Wherever electronic components are utilized, long elec- 

 tronic life must be a basic factor in their design. In this regard, 

 military specifications, especially those written for existing 

 specialized projects, are not always adequate criteria. 



3. Operation and maintenance of both individual instruments 

 and instrument systenns must not be so complicated as to require 

 extensive, specialized training for their use. 



4. Instrument and instrument system power requirements 

 must not necessitate elaborate voltage and frequency controls. 



5. Possibly the least understood and, yet, the most important 

 is the fact that all of these instruments and instrument systems 

 must be especially designed to be used at sea. Their construction 

 and operation must be reliable, accurate, and compatible with the 

 shipboard and marine environment which can be very severe on 

 occasions . 



Inasmuch as all of the described instruments and instrument 

 systems are to be designed for use aboard oceanographic survey 



351 



