71 



knowledge more effectively in meeting the needs 

 of the oceanographic communit)-. Although the 

 problem of quality control still remains a major 

 factor in the rejection of oceanographic instru- 

 ments, industry is improving its reliabilitv 

 engineering. 



The FY 1967 program reflects a new approach 

 to the solution of instrument problems: the 

 development of instruments from a systems stand- 

 point. Examples of this are; the engineering ap- 

 proach used by ONR in the development of their 

 large long-range telemetering buoy, the emphasis 

 placed on the uniformity of data output of the 

 expendable bathythermograph, the reliabilit) 

 engineering specifications for a fishnet bathy- 

 kymograph, and the multi-agency appraoch to 

 prepare government-wide performance require- 

 ments for a deep sea thermograph. 



The new, more dependable generation of 

 instruments will provide oceanographic survey 

 and research projects \vith reliable and efficient 

 replacements for the conventional instruments 

 now in use. Emphasis on data format has resulted 

 in new electronic systems with digital outputs. 

 These systems will be put into field use during FY 

 1967. As newer devices of this type are phased 

 into use, more efficient data handling, ease of 

 operation, and reduced maintenance will lower 

 the cost of data collection. 



DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

 Department of the Navy 

 Office of Naval Research 



FY 1965 -$940,000 

 FY 1966-1940,000 

 FY 1967-$940.000 



The Office of Naval Research's five year pro- 

 gram to dexelop a reliable long range telemetering 

 buoy should be completed during FY 1967. In 

 the final system a number of buoys anchored in 

 the deep ocean will report oceanographic and 

 meteorological data on command to a mobile 

 shore station by high frequenc) radio links over 

 distances up to 2,500 miles. 



This carefully controlled engineering and 

 instrumentation project has resulted in an im- 



ustially stable and \ersatile buo) with electrical and 

 mechanical subs)stems of great dinabilit)' and high 

 accuracy. The discus shaped buoy hull is 40 feet 

 in diameter and seven feet thick and stipports a 

 40-foot combination exhaust snorkel and discone 

 antenna mast. A nickel-cadmium battery bank, 

 capable of supplying 200 watts of continuous 

 power, is charged by two propane fueled, one- 

 kilowatt generators. Telemetry is provided on one 

 of three frequencies selected to ensure good data 

 transmission quality at all times. 



Up to 100 sensors can be interrogated and their 

 information stored in two memories within the 

 buoy. One memory will store an entire year's 

 data while the second telemeters information 

 accumulated over the past 24 hoins on demand 

 from the shore facilities. This will occur e\'ery 

 six hours. Data will be transmitted as a pulse coded 

 modulated signal on a frequency-modulated single 

 side band carrier of 100 watts average power. 



During the past year the prototype hull has 

 been anchored in the axis of the Florida Current 

 off Hollywood Beach, Florida. Considerable engi- 

 neering information was obtained on the response 

 of the buoy, its mooring line forces, dynamic 

 loading characteristics, and the performance of 

 the power supply, navigational warning hardware, 

 and telemetry system. In September of 1965, the 

 buoy remained anchored and in operation during 

 the passage of Hurricane Betsy. Interrogation 

 during this period indicated winds in excess of 

 100 knots and waves as high as 50 feet. The 

 sur\ival of the btioy and its mooring system under 

 these adverse conditions is a tribute to the carefully 

 engineered design characteristics of the overall 

 system. 



Parallel programs, necessary to the development 

 of the overall buoy system have also been sup- 

 ported o\er the past year. A handbook sum- 

 marizing the forces and motion of the mooring 

 line will be issued shorth'. In\estigations into 

 the anti-fouling properties of organotin com- 

 poimds show promise of affording protection to 

 sensors for periods as long as one year. The 

 testing program on mooring line materials will 

 continue in order to determine optimimi charac- 

 teristics for deep sea use. E\aluation of the proto- 

 type sensor package, designed for one year 

 unattended operation, will continue as an im- 

 portant part of the o\erall instrumentation 



