Deep profiler for the ocean observatories initiative Regional Scale Nodes: Rechargable, adaptive, ROV servicable

As part of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Ocean Observing Initiative (OOI) Regional Scale Nodes (RSN) project, the University of Washington Applied Physics Lab (APL) plans to install a Deep Profiler System that includes a modified McLane Research Labs (MRL) McLane Moored Profiler (MMP). The profiler modifications will include those necessary to operate on a 9/16" diameter electrical-mechanical cable, powered by a rechargeable battery system, and allow installation and removal from the mooring cable by ROV. The rechargeable battery pack will be housed in a third glass flotation sphere and the standard profiler frame will be extended by 12". The inductive charging coupler will be mounted at the base of the profiler and the charging electronics will interact with the profiler electronics to optimize science operations. The modified profiler will have eight science instruments, a dedicated pressure sensor for profiling, continuous data communication using an inductive modem, and high speed data communication when in the charging dock. All sensors will have high accuracy time stamping on the data. This modified profiler will also be deployed and recovered in-situ from the mooring wire by ROV to permit profiler maintenance and instrument calibration without requiring the entire mooring to be recovered.