Date post: | 17-Dec-2015 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | damian-welch |
View: | 216 times |
Download: | 1 times |
J ILL ELLISSCM 330
Deep Submergence Vehicle: Alvin
What is Alvin?
Manned research submarineSeats two scientists and one pilotCapable of reaching about 63% of the ocean
floorCapable of taking samples of rocks, sediment,
fluids and other sea lifeCan dive 4,500 m for up to six to ten hours
Alvin in its original form in the 1960s
Brief Background:
Built in 1964
Navy Ownership
Operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
4,200 dives
Alvin’s Fame and Glory
Most widely known for three discoveries:
* The location of a lost hydrogen bomb in the Mediterranean Sea in 1966
* The exploration of thermal vents in the 1970s
* The discovery of the sunken RMS Titanic in 1986
Inside Alvin
Submarine Simulator
How it Works
Maneuverability
• Uses 6 reversible thrusters
• Hover• Rest on the sea floor
Diving and Surfacing
• Controlled by gravity and buoyancy
• Water ballast and expendable steel weights
• Trim system to control pitch angle
Lighting the Depths of the Ocean
• 12 quartz iodide and metal halide lights
•Lights take up a large portion of the power source
Outer Equipment
Hydraulic, robotic arms Help to take samples and maneuver equipment and
materials outside of the submarineA large basket
Can carry up to 1,000 lbs of equipment and samples
Scientific Operational
Digital camerasMultibeam sonarsViewing lightsData system that
acquires real time data
CTFM sonar for flat bottom navigation
Altimeter, readout in meters every second
Six hydraulic valves
Subsystems
So What’s so Revolutionary about Alvin?
Instrumental in confirming the idea that the sea floor was spreading along the Mid Atlantic Ridge
Confirmed the existence of thermal ventsHave recorded over 300 new species
Including bacteria, clams, and tube worms
Alvin succeeded in bringing a National Geographic-like quality to ocean discovery
The New and Improved Alvin
Ability to dive 6,500 m
Capacity to carry more observers
Improved battery access
More robust sphere design
12 km fiber-optic cable
Able to reach 99% of the sea floor