The Coastal Autonomous Profiling and Boundary Layer System (CAPABLE)

The capability to perform autonomous, long-term, reliable, multi-parameter vertical profiling of the coastal oceans has been clearly stated as a high priority need to support the oceanographic research and ocean observatory communities. Through a collaborative effort bringing together the scientific and technical expertise of the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University with the engineering and manufacturing expertise of WET Labs, we have developed the Coastal Autonomous Profiling and Boundary Layer System (CAPABLE). CAPABLE consists of a compact, hydrodynamic, multi-instrumented, self-contained profiler termed the Extended Endurance Autonomous Moored Profiler (X10 AMP), a docking station/bottom boundary layer sampling system termed the Shallow Coastal Upward Looking Profiler Integration Node (SCULPIN), and a nearby Surface Boundary Buoy (SBB) for data transmission. The X10 AMP includes a suite of physical, biological, chemical and optical sensors with integrated antifouling devices, a platform control system, a rechargeable power system, and a remote telemetry unit. The X10 AMP design is based on a winch-on-board concept, where all components of the profiler are contained within the platform. The X10 AMP design combines vertical hydrofoil shape and a spar buoy weight arrangement to consistent vertical orientation for the platform while profiling. These two features provide a stable profiling platform from which to conduct fine scale vertical resolution measurements. The primary control and power electronics for the X10 AMP, winch system, winch motor control, telemetry system, and inductive charging/communication system are all located within a single pressure housing located on the leading edge of the platform. The primary package control electronics of the X10 AMP provides for power distribution, regulation and fault monitoring, instrument power and data acquisition, platform command and control, telemetry system interface and power control, winch system interface, and data storage and transfer. The SCULPIN includes a large capacity power supply, a recharging system for the profiler, an upward-looking acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), and an acoustic release mechanism. The inductive charging/communications docking system is comprised of two aluminum components: a docking stinger mounted on the X10 AMP and a docking drogue mounted on the SCULPIN. When the X10 AMP is docked, and inductive link is established between the X10 AMP and the SCUPLIN through which the on-board battery pack on the X10 AMP are recharged. The design also provides for a communication link to monitor the charging system and allow communication between the X10 AMP and SCULPIN when docked. The SBB provides an acoustic communication link to the SCULPIN, and also communicates via cellular phone to shore. Several communication pathways exist within the CAPABLE system to insure remote control and confi
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guration of the system as well as data offload. The CAPABLE system has been deployed and tested in the coastal waters off of Oregon, and we present a description of the system as well as data collected during these field deployments. CAPABLE provides the capability to sample the physical (pressure, temperature, salinity, currents), biological (chlorophyll fluorescence), chemical (dissolved oxygen, nitrate concentrations, and colored dissolved organic material fluorescence), and optical (backscattering) properties over the entire water column which are critical for assessing the state of the coastal ecosystem and for monitoring changes due to natural and anthropogenic forcing.