Power Buoy: Prototype Test
Project Manager and Lead Engineer: Andy HamiltonWith funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), MBARI is working on a free-swimming platform that can harvest energy from the ocean environment to provide at-sea recharging for autonomous vehicles. In 2011 the design will be refined for improved station-keeping and power use. MBARI researchers will also work on a numerical model of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) docking to the buoy.
Monterey Ocean Observing System (MOOS) Upper Canyon Experiment
Project Manager and Lead Engineer: Mark ChaffeyLead Scientists: Charles Paull, Jim Barry
Project website
The MOOS mooring will document the frequency and intensity of sediment transport events in upper Monterey Canyon and characterize the physical processes active during those events. Research will focus on the event-detection algorithm to improve differentiation between signals associated with tidal currents and signals from high-energy events, and data analysis after the mooring is recovered.
Mooring Maintenance
Project Manager: Mike KelleyLead Scientist: Francisco Chavez
Lead Engineer: Kevin Gomes
This project will use shared engineering time based on historical needs for the operation of MBARI’s two institutionally-supported moorings. Data from the moorings are utilized by a number of MBARI scientists as well as externally-funded projects and institutions and organizations. The project allows MBARI to track changes in maintenance levels with changes in scale and technology.