A secondary junction box developed in “Submarine Observation Network Junction Boxes and Communication Technology”, a sub-project of National 863 Plan project, successfully docked with MARS undersea observation network of MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) in Monterey Bay U. S. on April 21. The sub-project was headed by Professor Yang Canjun, Dr. Li Dejun and Dr. Jin Bo of State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Control.
On April 13, Prof. Yang Canjun and PhD candidate Chen Yanhu flied to MBARI to conduct testing of the ocean-observing instruments. The equipment passed current testing and ground testing and continuous pool testing in the week-long test. On April 21, the scientists boarded the research vessel Western Flyer to approach the main junction box of MARS network. ROV Ventana, a undersea robot vehicle on another research vessel Point Lobos, helped in the deployment of the packages. The secondary observatory junction box and submarine camera system developed by Zhejiang University research team were successfully hooked up to the MARS network. After that, the seawater chemistry monitoring system developed by Tongji University and physical properties monitoring system developed by Ocean University of China were attached to the secondary junction box. The secondary junction box developed by Zhejiang University has 10 ports that can provide power and data for undersea experiments through separate seafloor cables. Now the three instrument packages are functioning well undersea. “This is a real progress, a substantial step in deep-sea observations.” Dr. Kang Ding from the University of Minnesota commented.
Invited by Dr. James Bcllingham, the Chief Technology Officer of MBARI, Prof. Yang Canjun delivered a report on Detection & Sampling for Deep Sea Research on April 20.
