Underwater station
An underwater station including: a transmitter means located on a flotation means connected to the station, and a tracking means to determine the relative location of the flotation means.
1. An underwater station including: an acoustic transmitter means located on a flotation means, wherein said flotation means is located below the surface of the water and connected to said station, and further wherein said station is positioned on the seabed; and a tracking means to determine the relative location of said flotation means relative to said station.
2. A station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said flotation means is connected to said station by a flexible riser or cable.
3. A station as claimed in claim 2 wherein the length of said flexible riser or cable is adjustable to control the height of said flotation means relative to said station.
4. A station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said flotation means has adjustable buoyancy to control the height of said flotation means relative to said station.
5. A station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said tracking means includes: at least one transmitting hydrophone located on said station; and a plurality of receive means located on said flotation means, wherein said receive means are able to detect a transmitting signal from said at least one transmitting hydrophone.
6. A station as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said transmitting hydrophone is a directional transmitting hydrophone configured to direct said transmitting signal towards said flotation means.
7. A station as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said tracking means includes: at least one transmitting hydrophone located on said flotation means; and a plurality of receive means located on said station, wherein said receive means are able to detect a transmitting signal from said at least one transmitting hydrophone.
8. A station as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said transmitting hydrophone is a directional transmitting hydrophone configured to direct said transmitting signal towards said station.
9. A station as claimed in claim 7 , wherein four said receive means are located at extremities of said station.
10. A station as claimed in claim 7 , wherein four said receive means are located about a transducer ring mounted on said station.
11. A station as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said flotation means is connected to said station by a flexible riser or cable extendings substantially through a centre point of said transducer ring.
12. A station as claimed in claim 1 , further including a housing for storing a power source.
13. A station as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said receive means are receiving hydrophones.
14. A station as claimed in claim 1 , further including a positioning means to determine tilt, roll, and/or heading of said station.
15. A station as claimed in claim 1 , further including a processing means to determine underwater currents as a function of the position of the flotation means.