Abstract
Upper ocean observations play a pivotal role in weather forecasting, particularly in predicting severe weather conditions like hurricanes, and ensuring maritime safety. However, the prevailing profiling devices, designed primarily for deep ocean missions, are prohibitively expensive for upper ocean monitoring. This research focuses on a complete redesign of the buoyancy engine mechanism to create a cost-effective autonomous profiler specifically for the upper ocean. The primary objective of this work is to conceive a lightweight, affordable, and user-friendly upper ocean profiler tailored to individual user requirements. The proposed Aurelia Upper Ocean Profiler (UOP), inspired by the Aurelia jellyfish genus, is engineered for upper-ocean profiling within the top 200 meters. It utilizes a simplified buoyancy engine, integrates readily available components, and employs rapid prototyping, leading to substantial reductions in production costs. Aurelia determines its depth by regulating its density using a syringe pump and observing oceanic pressure differentials. The design encompasses wireless connectivity, a modular hull, a scalable buoyancy engine, and an intuitive interface. We will begin by examining technologies employed for subsurface oceanic data collection, referencing the World Ocean's Database. A two-decade data analysis reveals a predominant emphasis on upper ocean measurements by most instruments, with the exception of profilers. There is a noticeable shift towards autonomous data collection vehicles, which can operate without persistent ship oversight. The conspicuous upper ocean data collection gap in traditional profilers arises from the very high costs of their buoyancy engines. The Aurelia UOP’s inception can be traced back to a 2016 Senior Capstone project, spearheaded by Mr. Pasteris. This pioneering idea of a new buoyancy engine was subsequently expanded upon by mentoring five multidisciplinary Capstone teams, each conceptualizing distinct subsystems. These subsystems underwent evaluation, refinement, and eventual integration into the Aurelia. The culmination of this research is the Aurelia UOP Lite—a compact 10lb device capable of delving to depths of 50m. Envisioned as a precursor to a comprehensive upper ocean model, this prototype can be programmed via an Android interface using Bluetooth. It is designed for versatility, executing multi-command missions for drifting, profiling, and sensor readings based on user-specified time/depth intervals. The work concludes with a series of tank and ocean tests undertaken during the development of the Aurelia UOP Lit.