Technology
Existing technology:
PROVOR CTS3 :
PROVOR CTS3 has an important volume variation capacity; it can be used in a wide range of density gradient. PROVOR CTS3 is reliable with an optimized cost, PROVOR CTS3 can be launched from any vessel at low speed using only a rope and from a high speed vessel (20 knots tested) by using release kit and launching crate.
Based on its self ballasting features, PROVOR CTS3 is fan tail ready, able to be launched in all seas by removing a magnet.
Mission parameters can be modified by user before launching. During the first descent data are acquired in order to enable comparison with CTD cast (Conductivity Temperature Depth).
Data are transmitted through ARGOS satellite.
PROVOR CTS3 has been designed by IFREMER (Ifremer: Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer) and NKE in industrial partnership (www.nke.fr).
PROVOR CTS3 is a platform able to carry various sensors. Examples of projects recently developed:
PROVOR CTS 3_DO: Conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen.
PROVOR A: Conductivity, temperature with RAFOS, acoustic positioning during drift.
PROVBIO: Conductivity, temperature with optical irradiance and transmittance, Iridium data Transmission.
ARVOR:
Design has been performed by Ifremer, the French institute for sea research by using an important know how in float activities and well qualified subassemblies. NKE (www.nke.fr), PROVOR manufacturer, has achieved the industrial design.
ARGOS satellites are used to collect data and localize ARVOR when surfacing.
ARVOR float can perform up to 200 profiles from 2000 meters depth to the surface.
ARVOR float is designed to acquire salinity and temperature profiles using proven ARGO sensors. A profile is achieved during the first descent for comparison with a CTD cast.
ARVOR float is self-ballasted allowing operation in a wide range of density conditions and gradients.
Ballasting operation is not required. ARVOR is fan tail ready using magnet.
ARVOR is light and deployable by only one person. Wireless connectivity using Bluetooth eases mission configuration and testing before deployment.
NEMO:
OPTIMARE (www.optimare.de) has developed the Navigating European Marine Observer (NEMO)-Float for the research programme ARGO (www.argo.ucsd.edu). NEMO has been further developed on the basis of the SOLO-Float. NEMO ascends from a depth of up to 2000 meters in regular intervals to the surface and transmits the collected data via the ARGOS satellite system. The NEMO-Float has been further improved to allow the deployment under ice, positioning through GPS and RAFOS, as well as the integration of new sensors (nitrate, oxygen,…) and telemetries. Data transfer to a land-base is available via satellite communication.
APEX:
APEX, like its predecessor ALACE, is an autonomous drifting profiler used to measure subsurface currents and make profile measurements. It surfaces at programmed intervals for data telemetry and geo-location via ARGOS satellite. Standard sensors include TP and Salinity; other sensor options are available as pumped CTD, Oxygen, transmissometer, acoustic receiver, temperature depth and turbidity (www.webbresearch.com/apex.aspx). APEX has a 4-year life and can surface approximately 150 times from a maximum depth of 2000 meters. APEX automatically adjusts buoyancy to follow an isobaric surface while drifting, or can be programmed to follow an isopycnal surface.
