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148 



color TV quality/usability 



natural visibility limits 



organism detection/location techniques (sonic) 



navigation/positioning 



sediment disturbance 



vehicle effects on organism behavior 



manipulation/sampling effectiveness 



scientific observer's durational limits 



The results of the field experience will be used to evaluate the potential 



of ROVs for augmenting or substituting for manned vehicles in various scientific/ 



research programs. 



6.2.2 Instrumentation 



There are two areas where instrumentation research and development programs 

 have been identified for application from towed vehicles, these are in fisheries 

 hydroacoustics and biological sampling/assay. 



6. 2. 2. a Fisheries Hydroacoustics 



A National Marine Fisheries Service document "Organization and Management 

 Philosophy of the National Fisheries Engineering Laboratory" dated 31 March 

 1978 outlined some of the technological needs for fishery stock assessment 

 and the problems in hydroacoustics technology. While fish school location, size 

 and direction of movement can be acoustically obtained, a means for determination 

 of fish species is the major advancement needed. In order to increase sonar 

 performance, by avoiding surface and ship noise and reducing reverberation 

 problems, it is desireable to operate the hydroacoustic systems from a towed 

 vehicle. Based on apriori information, such as fish migration and behavioral 

 patterns, seasonal variations, depth constraints, etc., it is possible to 

 isolate some species. However, in most situations multi-species prevail at 

 the same location, and specie identification is difficult. 



The initial task required is to make an assessment of the state-of-the-art 

 by reviewing the mission and operating requirements; examine the available 

 technology and research underway and planned; identify the critical problems 

 and deficiencies and formulate a technical development plan to conduct the 

 research necessary. The engineering research tasks identified in the assessment 

 study should be presented in the technical development plan. The most critical 

 areas should be assigned priorities and the next step will involve carrying 

 out the most critical engineering research identified in the technology assess- 

 ment study /workshop. 



6.2.2.b Biological Sampling/Assay 



The National Marine Fisheries Service's towed vehicle RUFAS relies heavily upon 

 photographic records to conduct bio-assays of organisms. Frequently the photo- 

 graphs contain a variety of organisms in addition to those of interest. 

 Visually identifying, discriminating, and counting the organism of interest 

 from those which are not is arduous and time-consuming, and hundreds of photo- 

 graphs are taken on one survey run. Frequently it is desired to collect 



