Zero Power Buoyancy Control for Distributed Autonomous Sensor Networks Conducted During Crimson Viper 2010 Field Experiment

Abstract : The Office of Naval Research (ONR)/Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Reserve Program (Program 38) was tasked to conduct an experiment on ONR and NRL technologies that were incorporated into the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) Experimentation Center (MEC) Crimson Viper 2010 (CV10) Field Experiment. This specific experiment addresses the Zero Power Ballast Control (ZPBC) for Distributed Autonomous Sensor Networks. The experiment was conducted by ONR Program 38 officers for the NRL Materials Science and Component Technology Directorate, Code 6115. The purpose of the ZPBC for Distributed Autonomous Sensor Networks experiment is to evaluate the prototype's maturity and utility for field deployments and provide recommendations for future improvements and testing. The ZPBC prototype is a technology developed by NRL Code 6115 which relies on microbial energy harvesting developments with the ultimate goal of producing simple, small, power-efficient data harvesting nodes with variable buoyancy, enabling unsuperivised underwater sensing with subsequent surfacing and reporting capabilities. These sensors could be designed to detect and classify, rise to the surface, report using radio frequency (RF) or other communication, then re-submerge and continue monitoring operations. The systems are based on microbial metabolism with variable ballasting offered by biological H2 production. Current prototypes offer the possibility of one to ten year deployments. This technology was assessed during CV09 and CV10 by ONR Program 38 officers and tests were conducted to determine how well, under what circumstances, and under what conditions the ZPBC prototype system performed in the field.