Autonomous submersible sensor apparatus with piston dive control
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts
InventorPatrick R. Pasteris
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Abstract
A lightweight, efficient, autonomous sub-surface water data profiler (10) that can be easily programmed and deployed to collect sample data at a variety of water depths is disclosed. The profiler is a unique, simple-to-use, low-cost design with a low-cost depth control system that allows several dive/surface trips, an Android graphical interface for Bluetooth programming and a deployable antenna for retrieval after completing its mission. The collected data is achieved using an open-source Android interface and Bluetooth programming using Android and longer-range radio communications with a deployable antenna. The profiler is usable by anyone with a deep pond, lake, ocean or even a pool that they would like to monitor.
Claims10
An autonomous submersible sensor apparatus for collecting data at variable depths in water environments comprising:
- a modular submersible housing including:
- an instrument housing;
- a dive control system removably secured in coaxial relation with a lower end of said instrument housing, said dive control system having a dive control tube in fluid communication with the external water environment;
- a weighted foot removably secured in coaxial relation with a lower end of said dive control tube;
- a circuit board having control, communication and sensor electronics thereon contained within said instrument housing;
- a dive control piston slidably received within said dive control tube,
- wherein dive control piston is slidably movable within said dive control tube to selectively intake of expel water within said dive control tube to change the overall density of said modular submersible housing and thereby selectively control an operating depth of said apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.