MARS node deployment testing and diagnosis tool development
Project Manager: Craig Dawe
Lead Engineers: Paul McGill, Mark Talkovic
The initial deployment of MARS (Monterey Accelerated Reasearch System) will involve several untested procedures and associated (and untested) support equipment. It is proposed to build a full-scale mock-up of the node package and a dedicated tool-sled containing a latching mechanism, winch system, camera/viewing system, and manipulator. Surplus and off-the-shelf components are readily available for the project. Building and proof testing the equipment and procedures for deployment and recovery of the MARS node at sea will mitigate the risk of losing a component that could be critical to the timely success of the MARS project.
Once a node is deployed and connected to the MARS cable, a hardware tool needs to be developed that can test the voltages present for value and capacity and test the copper Ethernet connection and the timing signals. A simple visual basic GUI (Graphical User Interface) and some off-the-shelf data modules will be used for this task.