Development of the RAPID MK III telemetry system – a report on the NOC tank-testing and shallow and deep-water field trials

Rayner, D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2283-4140; Mack, S.; Foden, P.R.; Charcos Llorens, M.; Campbell, J.M.. 2016 Development of the RAPID MK III telemetry system – a report on the NOC tank-testing and shallow and deep-water field trials. Southampton, National Oceanography Centre, 54pp. (National Oceanography Centre Internal Document, No. 18)

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Abstract/Summary

This report describes the development of the RAPID Mk III telemetry system based on the combination of inductive mooring communications, an acoustic link to a nearby lander and timed release of data capsules to relay the data to shore via the Iridium satellite network. The lander is modified from the MYRTLE-X system to incorporate the acoustic modem link to the mooring and the mooring communications hub is built on prior experience from the Mk I and Mk II RAPID telemetry developments that were ultimately aborted due to the risk to the moorings of a permanent surface buoy. Development of the Mk III system began in 2013 and this report details field trials conducted as part of the development, with shallow water trials in Loch Etive, Scotland and deeper, longer duration trials offshore of Gran Canaria, Spain. The trials were successful with data from the moored instruments transferred as far as the data capsules. The Loch Etive trials demonstrated the manual release and onward data transmission of data from a data capsule. The automatic timed release has not been verified after some component failures during the Gran Canaria trials but the system has since been deployed on the RAPID array at 26N in the Atlantic. More information on that deployment will be available in the RRS Discovery DY039 cruise report when complete.