Articles and Papers
SeaLab III: The Divers' Story
Author Kevin Hardy and I have discussed this issue’s SEALAB III article on and off for about a decade, while the central figures in it, the divers, have discussed it among themselves for over half a century.
Author Kevin Hardy and I have discussed this issue’s SEALAB III article on and off for about a decade, while the central figures in it, the divers, have discussed it among themselves for over half a century.
| The Journal of Diving History - April 2024 |
Watch the Keynote address:
SEALAB III: Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Lambertsen; June 17, 2023
SEALAB III: Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Lambertsen; June 17, 2023
Spies in the Deep: Ocean Landers Explore the Deep Sea
Below the surface layers of the ocean, there are ecosystems full of undiscovered life. To answer these questions,scientists build equipment to observe life in the deep sea. We built an ocean lander named BEEBE.
Below the surface layers of the ocean, there are ecosystems full of undiscovered life. To answer these questions,scientists build equipment to observe life in the deep sea. We built an ocean lander named BEEBE.
| Frontiers for Young Minds Ocean Landers - April 2022 |
Lander Lab: Studying Nearshore Submarine Canyons
Nearshore submarine canyons are unique features that bring the deep sea close to shore, potentially functioning as highways connecting shallow and deep-sea ecosystems. To study their ecology, we adapted two autonomous lander systems.
Nearshore submarine canyons are unique features that bring the deep sea close to shore, potentially functioning as highways connecting shallow and deep-sea ecosystems. To study their ecology, we adapted two autonomous lander systems.
| Marine Technology Reporter - March/April 2022 |
Lander Lab (#1): Technologies, Strategies, and Use of Ocean Landers
There are multiple classes of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs). Ocean Landers are the oldest, but an often overlooked platform for many seagoing projects.
There are multiple classes of unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs). Ocean Landers are the oldest, but an often overlooked platform for many seagoing projects.
| Marine Technology Reporter - Jan/Feb 2022 |
Characterizing Deepwater Oxygen Variability and Seafloor Community Responses Using a Novel Autonomous Lander
Describes a low-cost and spatially flexible approach for studying nearshore, deep-sea ecosystems, specifically, monitoring deepwater oxygen variability and benthic community responses. Download below or click here to view.
Describes a low-cost and spatially flexible approach for studying nearshore, deep-sea ecosystems, specifically, monitoring deepwater oxygen variability and benthic community responses. Download below or click here to view.
| Biogeosciences - July 2020 |
Small Autonomous Landers for Exploring Nearshore Submarine Canyon Ecology
(Poster presented at the 2020 Deep Sea Biology Society 2020 eMeeting)
Nearshore submarine canyons play an important role in connecting nearshore and deep-sea ecosystems, however, they are hard to access with traditional deep-sea techniques. Small autonomous landers offer a robust and cost-effective way to study these features.
(Poster presented at the 2020 Deep Sea Biology Society 2020 eMeeting)
Nearshore submarine canyons play an important role in connecting nearshore and deep-sea ecosystems, however, they are hard to access with traditional deep-sea techniques. Small autonomous landers offer a robust and cost-effective way to study these features.
| eDSBS - 2020.pdf |
Lander Depth Record Set for the Peru-Chile/Atacama Trench
A Chilean-led expedition to explore the ocean trench off its own coast succeeded in launching and recovering a benthic lander named “DOV Audacia” (Audacity), three times to deeper than 8,000 meters, the last to a record depth of 8,081 meters deep. The Atacamex 2018 expedition represent a milestone for marine science in Chile, as researchers there pursue seminal work in deep-sea exploration and research...
A Chilean-led expedition to explore the ocean trench off its own coast succeeded in launching and recovering a benthic lander named “DOV Audacia” (Audacity), three times to deeper than 8,000 meters, the last to a record depth of 8,081 meters deep. The Atacamex 2018 expedition represent a milestone for marine science in Chile, as researchers there pursue seminal work in deep-sea exploration and research...
| Marine Technology - April 2018.pdf |
Marine Technology Reporter’s 12th Annual Report on 100 innovative companies in the Subsea Sector
MTR100 2017, Marine Technology Reporter includes Global Ocean Design in top 100 innovative companies.
MTR100 2017, Marine Technology Reporter includes Global Ocean Design in top 100 innovative companies.
| Marine Technology - July 2017 |
CoolTech: Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries
Standard alkaline cells are hard to beat in ocean applications for a lot of reasons, but new chemistries provide interesting alternatives for instruments and releases in the cold waters of the deep sea. One of the more interesting chemistries is Lithium/Iron Disulfide (Li/FeS2) that operates well in the broad temperature range of...
Standard alkaline cells are hard to beat in ocean applications for a lot of reasons, but new chemistries provide interesting alternatives for instruments and releases in the cold waters of the deep sea. One of the more interesting chemistries is Lithium/Iron Disulfide (Li/FeS2) that operates well in the broad temperature range of...
| IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Newsletter - Dec 2016.pdf |
CoolTech: CBA IV
Batteries and solar panels provide power solutions for many remote operations. Both have a "sweet spot" that delivers the most power. Engineers must take that into account. An elegant, low-cost peripheral to a laptop, West Mountain Radio's Computerized Battery Analyzer (CBA IV) will give unbiased and detailed discharge data on all primary and...
Batteries and solar panels provide power solutions for many remote operations. Both have a "sweet spot" that delivers the most power. Engineers must take that into account. An elegant, low-cost peripheral to a laptop, West Mountain Radio's Computerized Battery Analyzer (CBA IV) will give unbiased and detailed discharge data on all primary and...
| IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society Newsletter - Sept 2016.pdf |
Quantifying Battery Capacity for Marine Application
Batteries permit the untethered operation of instrumentation and vehicles. Duration is a matter of capacity and discharge rate. Several factors will affect the deliverable energy of a battery, which may result in less than the catalog rated capacity, such as a high discharge rate. This primer will discuss multiple means to determine the actual energy available...
Batteries permit the untethered operation of instrumentation and vehicles. Duration is a matter of capacity and discharge rate. Several factors will affect the deliverable energy of a battery, which may result in less than the catalog rated capacity, such as a high discharge rate. This primer will discuss multiple means to determine the actual energy available...
| Ocean News & Technology - July 2016 Editorial.pdf |
The History of Manned Undersea Habitats
"SEALAB I: The Exhibit" Christening.
On November 11, 2016, the Man-in-the-Sea Museum, in Panama City, Florida, hosted a well-planned event to christen the newly-refurbished USN manned habitat SEALAB I as a walk-through exhibit. The museum, under the leadership of president Craig Cooper and...
"SEALAB I: The Exhibit" Christening.
On November 11, 2016, the Man-in-the-Sea Museum, in Panama City, Florida, hosted a well-planned event to christen the newly-refurbished USN manned habitat SEALAB I as a walk-through exhibit. The museum, under the leadership of president Craig Cooper and...
| Journal of Diving History - Fourth Quarter 2016.pdf |
FREE VEHICLES: Lander Technologies Mature
Deep ocean free vehicles untethered unmanned craft designed for deep ocean research and observation – were first proposed in 1938 by Maurice Ewing, Lamont Observatory, and Allyn Wine, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, in their paper "Deep Sea Measurements Without Wires or Cables" published by the American Geophysical Union. Free vehicles...
Deep ocean free vehicles untethered unmanned craft designed for deep ocean research and observation – were first proposed in 1938 by Maurice Ewing, Lamont Observatory, and Allyn Wine, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, in their paper "Deep Sea Measurements Without Wires or Cables" published by the American Geophysical Union. Free vehicles...
| Ocean News & Technology - January 2015 Editorial.pdf |
Autonomous, Retrievable, Deep Sea Microbial Fuel Cell
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) work by providing bacteria in anaerobic sediments with an electron acceptor (anode) that stimulates metabolism of organic matter. The buried anode is connected via control circuitry to a cathode exposed to oxygen in the overlying water...
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) work by providing bacteria in anaerobic sediments with an electron acceptor (anode) that stimulates metabolism of organic matter. The buried anode is connected via control circuitry to a cathode exposed to oxygen in the overlying water...
| Oceans 2015 - Deep Sea Microbial Fuel Cell.pdf |
Technology of the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE EXPEDITION
(Part 1 of 3: The Landers)
Virtually all oceanography has been done in the upper 6 km of the ocean, and very little in the 5 km below that in the deep region known as the “hadal zone.” Created by the titanic planetary forces of plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and countless unknown species are born there. A lack of access, not interest, has kept the hadal zone...
(Part 1 of 3: The Landers)
Virtually all oceanography has been done in the upper 6 km of the ocean, and very little in the 5 km below that in the deep region known as the “hadal zone.” Created by the titanic planetary forces of plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, and countless unknown species are born there. A lack of access, not interest, has kept the hadal zone...
| Ocean News & Technology - June 2014 Editorial.pdf |
Technology of the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE EXPEDITION
(Part 2 of 3: DEEPSEA CHALLENGER)
Driven by a deep curiosity to explore hidden places, James Cameron's DEEPSEA CHALLENGE (DSC) Expedition could have claimed the motto "Vade, et vide," meaning "Go and see." But to go and see the rolling fields of the lands submerged 7 miles underwater was an unimaginably complex effort led by a single, passionate visionary. The challenges were huge...
(Part 2 of 3: DEEPSEA CHALLENGER)
Driven by a deep curiosity to explore hidden places, James Cameron's DEEPSEA CHALLENGE (DSC) Expedition could have claimed the motto "Vade, et vide," meaning "Go and see." But to go and see the rolling fields of the lands submerged 7 miles underwater was an unimaginably complex effort led by a single, passionate visionary. The challenges were huge...
| Ocean News & Technology - July 2014 Editorial.pdf |
Technology of the DEEPSEA CHALLENGE EXPEDITION
(Part 3 of 3: DEEPSEA CHALLENGER )
This required a gut check of epic proportions. “When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you,” understood German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in 1886. With that, Explorer and Filmmaker James Cameron radioed the command to release the surface flotation and began his journey downward solo inside DEEPSEA CHALLENGER (DSC) to take on the towering odds against surviving the...
(Part 3 of 3: DEEPSEA CHALLENGER )
This required a gut check of epic proportions. “When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you,” understood German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in 1886. With that, Explorer and Filmmaker James Cameron radioed the command to release the surface flotation and began his journey downward solo inside DEEPSEA CHALLENGER (DSC) to take on the towering odds against surviving the...
| Ocean News & Technology - August 2014 Editorial.pdf |
OCEAN ENGINEERING 101:
Moisture Control in Subsea Housings
Excess water vapor in a sealed housing can cause system failure at depth. Condensation due to cold temperatures can fog a camera viewport or short circuit electronic boards. It can cost a researcher his data, “The Shot” from a camera, or even the instrument itself. Prudent designers will provide a means to proactively remove entrained moisture before deployment...
Moisture Control in Subsea Housings
Excess water vapor in a sealed housing can cause system failure at depth. Condensation due to cold temperatures can fog a camera viewport or short circuit electronic boards. It can cost a researcher his data, “The Shot” from a camera, or even the instrument itself. Prudent designers will provide a means to proactively remove entrained moisture before deployment...
| Ocean News & Technology - September 2014.pdf |
Elsevier:
Submersible- and lander-observed community patterns in the Mariana and New Britain trenches: Influence of productivity and depth on epibenthic and scavenging communities
Deep-sea trenches remain one of the least explored ocean ecosystems due to the unique challenges of sampling at great depths. Five submersible dives conducted using the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible generated video of undisturbed deep-sea communities at bathyal, abyssal, and hadal depths ... In addition, the scavenger community was studied using paired lander deployments to the New Britain and Mariana trenches...
Submersible- and lander-observed community patterns in the Mariana and New Britain trenches: Influence of productivity and depth on epibenthic and scavenging communities
Deep-sea trenches remain one of the least explored ocean ecosystems due to the unique challenges of sampling at great depths. Five submersible dives conducted using the DEEPSEA CHALLENGER submersible generated video of undisturbed deep-sea communities at bathyal, abyssal, and hadal depths ... In addition, the scavenger community was studied using paired lander deployments to the New Britain and Mariana trenches...
| Elsevier-Trenches - January 2014.pdf |
Ocean News and Technology:
Surface Detection For Recovery of UUVs
It was only in the middle of the 20th century that untethered free vehicles became possible with advances in floatation materials. Free vehicles operate independently from any surface vessel and, more recently, have been referred to as UUVs. These include AUVs, midwater floats...
Surface Detection For Recovery of UUVs
It was only in the middle of the 20th century that untethered free vehicles became possible with advances in floatation materials. Free vehicles operate independently from any surface vessel and, more recently, have been referred to as UUVs. These include AUVs, midwater floats...
| Ocean News & Technology - March 2015 Editorial.pdf |
| ON&T March 2010: New Discoveries in Lake Baikal by the MIR Submersibles |
| ON&T June 2010: Diode Lasers in Underwater Application |
| ON&T May 2010: Advanced Underwater LED Power Supply and Light Control |
| Underwater Intervention 2010: Advances in Pressure Compensated Lead-Acid Batteries |
| Tech Note 2009: Radial O-ring Static Male Seal Design |
| Tech Note 2009: Radial O-ring Static Face Seal for External Pressure |
| 2009: Recent Advances in Deep Sea LEDs for the Offshore Industry |
| Sea Tech 2009: Under Pressure: Testing Before Deployment is Integral to Success at Sea |
| Underwater 2009: Pressure-Compensated Lead-Acid Batteries for Submerged Applications |
| ON&T July/Aug 2009: Chemfilm of Aluminum |
| ON&T April/May 2009: Anodizing Aluminum for Underwater Applications |
| MTS 2009: Into the Trench, MTS Journal, Part 2 |
| MTS 2009: Into the Trench, MTS Journal, Part 1 |
| ON&T Oct/Nov 2008: Underwater Light Reflector Design - Pt 2 |
| ON&T Sept 2009: Optimal Lighting Geometry for Underwater Lights and Cameras - Pt 1 |
| ON&T Dec 2008: Displacing Darkness Lights in the Deep Sea |
| 2008: Application of High Power Light Emitting Diodes for Submerged Illumination |
| 2008: Advances in High Brightness Light Emitting Diodes in Underwater Applications |
| Sea Tech 2007: Underwater Applications of High-Power Light-Emitting Diodes |
| Sea Tech 2007: Soapbox |
| 2007: High Brightness Light Emitting Diodes for Ocean Applications |
| 2003: Special Issue—Scripps Institution of Oceanography Centennial |
| Oceans 2002: Deep Ocean Visualization Experimenter (DOV Mary Carol) |
| Sea Tech 1991: Return to the Titanic: The Third Manned Mission |
