Sensor and telemetry unit (STU) adapted for securable coupling to a floating object or buoyant aid to navigation (AtoN) to operate as a selectively deployable ocean data acquisition system (ODAS)

An apparatus comprising a self-contained ocean data and acquisition module (SCODAM) comprising:

• a sensor array;
• a geospatial locating engine;
• a wave measurement engine;
• a communication engine configured to transmit data collected by the sensor array, wave measurement engine, and geospatial locating engine to at least one remote device;
• an energy conversion module adapted to convert ambient energy inputs into electrical energy;
• and,
• an energy storage module coupled to the energy collection module and configured to receive the converted electrical energy and to supply operating power to the SCODAM,
• wherein the SCODAM is a single unit configured to mount to a separate floating body.

A method for deploying an existing floating body as an ocean data acquisition apparatus, the method comprising:

• providing a self-contained ocean data and acquisition module (SCODAM) as a single unit, the SCODAM comprising:
• a sensor array,
• a geospatial locating engine,
• a wave measurement engine,
• a communication engine configured to transmit data collected by the sensor array, wave measurement engine, and geospatial locating engine to at least one remote device,
• an energy conversion module adapted to convert ambient energy inputs into electrical energy, and
• an energy storage module coupled to the energy collection module and configured to receive the converted electrical energy and to supply operating power to the SCODAM;
• and,
• mounting the SCODAM to a separate floating body as the single unit.