Submarine mast autonomous controller and method

A method for monitoring mast events of interest in a submarine mast, said submarine mast comprising a host system for controlling mast operation of said submarine mast, said host system comprising a plurality of host system communication lines including a first plurality of communication lines which generally carry supervisory control signals of the host system to submarine mast components and which physically extend through said submarine mast, said method comprising:

• programming a microprocessor for operation independent of said host system;
• monitoring signals with said programmed microprocessor related to electrical current, electrical voltage, and temperature;
• storing monitor data derived from said monitored signals with respect to time in a memory of said microprocessor;
• electrically connecting said microprocessor to one or more of said first plurality of host communication lines on a time sharing basis whereby said microprocessor is operable for utilizing said first plurality of communication lines when said host system is not utilizing them;
• and
• dumping said monitor data stored in said memory of said microprocessor to another memory through said one or more of said first plurality of communication lines.

A system for monitoring events related to a submarine mast, said submarine mast comprising a host system for controlling operation of said submarine mast, said host system comprising host system communication wiring including a first plurality of communication lines which generally carry supervisory control signals of said host system to submarine mast components and which physically extend through said submarine mast, said system comprising:

• a microcontroller electrically interconnected to said host system through said plurality of host system communication lines;
• a plurality of sensors mounted to said submarine mast;
• and
• a first microcontroller memory operatively associated with said microcontroller to store said data from said plurality of sensors and for storing programming for operating said microcontroller, said microcontroller being operable for automatically transferring said stored data from said first microcontroller memory to a second storage memory utilizing a respective one of said first plurality of communication lines when said respective one of said first plurality of communication lines is not being utilized by said host system.