Fiber-optic data network for the ARGO/JASON vehicle system

A description is given of the digital data network for the ARGO/JASON remotely operated vehicle system and its implementation over the system's 7000-m single-mode electrooptic cable. The implementation uses the ProNET terrestrial local area network hardware protocol to provide multinode communications and allows for transmission of the network data over one of several multiplexed channels. Standard Internet protocol (IP) software is supported, allowing computers on the network to be tied directly into the Arpanet/Internet. The undersea computers and the shipboard vehicle control computers use a real-time multitasking system to provide fast and flexible event-driven control. Combined with network communications, the system is a complete multiprocessor package with low-latency responsiveness and flexible architecture, with a fiber-optic link tying the vehicles to each other and to the support ship.