Data pod release system

A data pod release system for long-term underwater data collection, comprising:

• a base frame, wherein the base frame includes:
• a mooring weight configured to maintain the base frame on a water body floor;
• a central column with one or more central pod attachments, floating plates, and
• an electronic pod with an electronic pod release mechanism,
• wherein the electronic pod encases a master electronic underwater housing unit,
• wherein the master electronic underwater housing unit contains master electronics configured to collect data from one or more sensors, store cumulative collected data, and control sequential release of one or more data pods;
• one or more data pod attachments configured to releasably attach the one or more data pods to the base frame via respective data pod release mechanisms;
• one or more electrical connections configured to connect each underwater housing unit with the master electronics within the master electronic underwater housing unit;
• the one or more data pods attached to the base frame via the one or more data pod attachments, wherein each data pod of the one or more data pods includes a respective data pod release mechanism configured to release the data pod from the base frame, and a buoyancy element configured to cause the data pod to surface upon release;
• one or more underwater housing units, wherein each underwater housing unit of the one or more underwater housing units is encased in a respective data pod of the one or more data pods and connected to the master electronics via the one or more electrical connections;
• one or more electronic storage devices, wherein each electronic storage device of the one or more electronic storage devices is located within a respective underwater housing unit, connected to the master electronics via the electrical connections, and configured to store cumulative data collected by the data pod release system;
• the one or more sensors configured to collect data and transfer the data to at least one of the master electronics, each underwater housing unit, or a combination thereof;
• wherein the data pod release system is configured to operate such that upon release of a data pod from the base frame, the released data pod surfaces to a water body surface while the base frame with the master electronic underwater housing unit and any unreleased data pods remain deployed on the water body floor, wherein the electronic storage device in each released data pod contains cumulative data collected by the data pod release system from deployment up to a time of release of that data pod, and
• wherein the master electronics continues to collect data and control release of remaining data pods after release of each data pod.