Robert H Reid

US Patent:

50072854, Apr 16, 1991

Filed:

Mar 17, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/325522

Inventors:

John M. Dahlen - Duxbury MA
Narender K. Chhabra - Bedford MA
Richard K. Araujo - Tewksbury MA
James R. Scholten - Sudbury MA
Robert W. Reid - Acton MA
Matti Soikkeli - Braintree MA

Assignee:

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G01W 100

US Classification:

73170A

Abstract:

A low-cost floating drifter adapted to accurately follow near-surface ocean currents and transmit periodically to monitoring satellites data and position-determining information. Global tracking of ocean currents is made economically and scientifically feasible by the use of large numbers of such drifters. The drifter includes a floating surface buoy in the approximate shape of an oblate spheroid and containing an electronic system, a slotted plane antenna, transmitter, sunrise and sunset detector, environmental sensors, buoy hull strain sensor and battery power supply. The surface buoy is stabilized and induced to follow ocean currents by a drogue suspended from the bottom center surface. The drogue includes a wire-cored buoyant rope of up to hundreds of meters in length and weighted to a slight negative buoyancy. The drogue may also include an elongated cylindrical sock of substantially greater diameter than the rope.

US Patent:

50540394, Oct 1, 1991

Filed:

Aug 30, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/574869

Inventors:

Fletcher A. Blackmon - New Bedford MA
Robert J. Reid - Fall River MA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

G06F 102

US Classification:

377 42

Abstract:

A digital calibration circuit provides 1/3 octave center frequencies substially in the range of 50 Hz-12. 5 kHz (25 tones) simultaneously at the output at repeatable levels. The system converts digital data to an analog representation for use in calibrating hydrophones. The calibration circuit is comprised of a clock section, a counting section, a clearing section, a data storage/transfer section, and a signal conditioning section. The information that is provided to the output in analog form is stored in digital form in an EPROM within the data storage/transfer section.