China's 4,000-meter deep-sea profile buoy "floating star" made breakthrough progress

[ China Instrument Network Instrument R&D ] Recently, the ocean 4,000-meter deep-sea self-sustaining profile buoy "floating star" sea test independently developed by the Ocean Buoy Team of Qingdao Ocean Engineering Research Institute of Tianjin University has successfully completed the 4,000-meter deep-sea self-sustaining profile buoy in China. A crucial step has been taken on the road to practical use.

The deep-sea self-sustaining profile buoy drifts with the current, it is an easy-to-dispose, miniaturized, low-cost underwater mobile observation platform, which can realize adaptive trimming, automatic dive, deep dangling and floating in any sea area. According to the type of sensor installed, such as CTD (temperature and salt depth), dissolved oxygen, ADCP (current flow profiler), etc., the seawater profile data of the global ocean is collected quickly, accurately and widely. It can lead us to further understand the ocean and navigate the ocean. It is an important tool for ocean observation and detection.

In recent years, a number of countries have launched a new round of deep-sea ocean observations, extending to the deep sea below 2000 meters to occupy the commanding heights of a new round of deep-sea competition, but China did not officially join the Global Ocean Observing Network until the beginning of the 21st century.

On July 28th, the research team launched in the waters of nearly 4,000 meters in the northern part of the South China Sea. As of August 8, 26 sections have been continuously and stably operated, with a maximum dive depth of 3550.3m and a data transmission success rate of 99.9%. The success of this sea trial further verified the feasibility of the key technologies such as buoyancy drive, pressure design, and acquisition communication in the 4,000-meter deep sea of ​​the ocean, and the reliability of the equipment. It also greatly promoted the 4,000-meter deep sea in China. The practical process of self-contained profile buoys.

It is reported that the 4,000-meter deep-sea self-sustaining profile buoy "floating star" of the ocean is led by Professor Li Xingfei from the Qingdao Institute of Marine Engineering of Tianjin University. At the same time, it was supported by the special “Qianhai Plan” of the National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology in Qingdao.

(Source: Yangguang.com, Xinhuanet, Tianjin University)