Ocean Engineering Program Florida Institute of Technology
150 West University Boulevard,
Melbourne, Florida 32901
Coordinator:
Dr. Stephen L. Wood The Underwater Technology Laboratory (UTL) in the department of ocean engineering at Florida Institute of Technology is part of a national effort to develop an "Integrated, Sustained Ocean Observing System," see U.S. Global Ocean Observing System. The UTL is primarily concerned with the development of hardware and software for navigation, path planning, collision avoidance, fault detection and recovery, and communication for obtaining oceanographic data over an extended period at extremely deep depths. FL COOS, (Florida Coastal Ocean Observing System) SEACOOS (Southeast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System), SECOORA (Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association) Core technologies for Underwater Technology Laboratory In support of the ocean engineering program at Florida Tech, the Underwater Technology Laboratory plays a key role in both exposing students to instrumentation and methods that will be later used in industry, and providing support for all ocean related projects, both in the surface vessel and underwater areas. The UTL includes the core technologies which directly relate to vehicle missions and control. The charter of the UTL includes:
A sensors lab has been established to address issues two and three. Located in the Geophysical Sensors Lab (second floor of the LINK building), the capability is being established to design, manufacture, and characterize both geophysical sensors, and acoustic transducers for sensing and communications applications. In the UTL itself, the focus is on related technologies applicable to all underwater operations. A common computer approach is being developed with the idea that the UTL be involved in not just vehicles but also fixed location buoys and remote sensing packages. Beyond that, a host of support technologies is targeted to support the vehicle and buoy projects. Areas being established for in house development include:
The combination of the two laboratory foci gives complete coverage for projects in both vehicle and buoy research.
Research Areas Ongoing Projects at Florida Tech:
The Underwater Technology Laboratory is actively researching several
topics associated with the deployment of high technology systems beneath
the surface of the surface of the ocean. The goal is to support the development
of such systems for deployment by the oceanographic and industrial community
and also to advance the state-of-the-art of
Autonomous Oceanographic Data Acquisition System It is the intention of the ocean engineering program at Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech) to design and develop an inexpensive autonomous oceanographic data acquisition system that is capable of operating at depths to 6000 meters. The system will comprise four key components: 1) an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), 2) an underwater refueling and information exchange station, 3) an oceanographic mooring similar to those used by NOAA for measurement of surface conditions, and 4) a satellite connection between the mooring and Florida Tech's base-of-operations.
AUV - Autonomous Underwater
Vehicles
ASV - Autonomous Surface Vehicles
ROV - Remotely Operated
Vehicles
OCEAN ENERGY RESEARCH
Other Activities:
FACILITIES The Underwater Technologies Laboratory has a 500 square foot electronic workshop in the Frueauff Building with all of the systems necessary to maintain the Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. Florida Tech also operates a 60 ft research vessel "Delphinus" which is available for at-sea operations.
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