July 2019 Newsletter Vol. 19, #2

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Challenged by a large customer to adapt our pressure-activated switch to their advanced application, we created the Model 223 Pressure Activated Switch. The 223 body may be made of either Ti or Al. With overall dimensions under 1.25” OD and under 1.25” tall, the switch provides triple frictionless seals on the pressure activation side, and a second o-ring seal on the bottom. A black delrin shell protects the body. The high-reliability SPST switch activates between 2-4 atmospheres, and will tolerate over-pressure past 1,000-atm.

The Model 223 Pressure Activated Switch joins our original Model 120 and 121 Pressure Activated Switches in the catalog.

Nanolander® Meets the PicoPod©

The central three-sphere Nanolander is fitted with two side PicoPods.

The Nanolander just got a lot more interesting with the addition of side-mounted variable buoyancy pods called PicoPods. Each PicoPod consists of an additional two 10” flotation spheres, with one PicoPod on each side of the Nanolander. The pair provide an additional 20-40-pounds of lift added to the Nanolander's 29-lb net buoyancy. Use the buoyancy to handle larger payloads or use additional instrument spheres as payload themselves.

This newest development meets our goal of interchangeability among the Global Ocean Design family of ocean landers. The Nanolander with the PicoPods remains light enough for hand deployment off a small vessel.

OOI Technology Workshop Final Report Available

A group of over 40 experts addressed recurring technology troubles with the OOI.

A marine technical report, released at the end of 2018, addresses troubles and possible solutions with the OOI engineering infrastructure.

The report is based on the work of over 40 experts in the field of cabled and autonomous moored systems gathered for a workshop at MBARI, under the leadership of Dr. Bruce Howe, University of Hawaii. Global Ocean Design founder, Kevin Hardy, was among the invited delegates.

The need was driven by failures that affect the performance of the engineering infrastructure and science sensors. The community representatives discussed these common engineering challenges in depth.

Hardy proposed the use of ocean landers, saving time and money by evaluating untested components and subsystems prior to long term deployment on OOI cabled networks.

The final report, “Deep Trouble! Common Problems for Ocean Observatories” maybe found along with a list of attendees, the agenda, and presentations, on the workshop’s website.

Global Ocean Design at the 50th Oceanology, IEEE-CWTMA Workshop

Manning our Oceanology 2019 booth is Global Ocean Design’s Business Manager, Michelle Hardy.

It was a pleasure to meet and talk with so many old and new friends at the Oceanology International Americas, February 25-27, 2019, in San Diego’s Convention Center. Thanks to all who dropped by, and congratulations to our three See’s Candy winners!

At the 2019 IEEE/OES 12^th Current, Waves and Turbulence Measurement and Applications Workshop, March 10-13, 2019, Catamaran Resort, Mission Bay, San Diego, Global Ocean’s Kevin Hardy, and Nortek’s Chris Kontoes, presented a talk titled “Application of small, untethered Ocean Landers for Current, Wave, and Turbulence Measurements.” The once-every-four-years workshop had many old friends, and new ideas.

A Tribute to Walter Munk by Kevin Hardy

Walter Munk with one of his deep-sea tide capsules, KATHY, an autonomous ocean lander.

If you know oceanography, you know Walter Munk of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography/UCSD, who passed away in February at the age of 101. His imaginative science, powered by forceful mathematics, aided by insightful collaborators, kindled innovations in all the technologies associated with his projects. Munk was adamant that risks were not only to be expected, but necessary to advance discovery.

I had the great fortune to work in his lab for most of the 40-year span of my Scripps career, and most of what I learned about ocean lander design came from Walter and his lead engineer, Frank Snodgrass.

There are many wonderful and thorough reflections on his life, including articles in Nature, the New York Times, and by his beloved Scripps, and UCSD. I only want to add, with greatest respect and admiration, “Thanks, Walter.”

Left to right: Walter and Mary Munk, Kevin and Michelle Hardy at the Scripps’ Nierenberg Prize Award ceremony, 2013.

Upcoming Events

Oceans 2019 Seattle, October 27-31, 2019
Booth 641.

AGU-Ocean Sciences 2020/San Diego, February 16-20, 2020, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA. Booth 304.

Visit our Website

Please stop by our website and see what else we’re up to!

See you next time!

If you have any questions, please contact us at info@globaloceandesign.com

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