THE PROBLEM 



Investigate Navy problems in sea floor oceanography 

 through suitably devised means, methods, and equipment. 

 Specifically, develop a method for controlling the depth of 

 deep-sea cameras and other oceanographic equipment low- 

 ered from floating platforms. 



RESULTS 



1. An experimental, low-cost, depth regulation 

 equipment has been developed. It consists of a bellows - 

 type depth sensor together with phase and power amplifiers, 

 servo units, and hoist-train equipment previously installed 

 on USS MARYSVILLE (EPCER 857). 



2. Dockside tests of the equipment with a small por- 

 table electric winch were successful. They indicated that 

 up to 85 per cent of unwanted vertical wire motion can be 

 eliminated when lowering oceanographic devices from 

 floating platforms. 



3. Sea tests were not attempted because the sensor 

 and the phase and power amplifiers had not been constructed 

 for normal shipboard use. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. Investigate the possibility of adapting standard 

 U. S. Navy hoist-train servo systems to depth regulation 

 equipment, in particular on oceanographic winches. 



MBL/WHOI 



0301 OOMOS 1 ^ D 



