Page 27: of Marine Technology Magazine (June 2013)
AUV Operations
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equipment, which occurred in this case when the two AUVs were constructed. This equipment was also unique in that it was very portable. It was built in mod- ules which allowed for it to be dismanta- led for transportation purposes and then reassembled.Dr. McFarlane sees the development of autonomous vehicles as the greatest ad- vancement in the industry thus far. ?We have them down to 5,000 meters,? he said, depths where divers can?t go. Plus, he adds, ?these tethered vehicles give you real time pictures and you are working as if you are there but you are unable to cover the kind of territory you can cover with autonomous vehicles.? And, going forward, he says there is a strong future for the AUVs as the in- dustry nds a greater diversity for their application.?I think what?s going to happen is a greater diversity of platforms and great- er diversity in the applications there of but I do seriously think the exploration of ocean oor for metals and methane is going to prove to be very major work,? he said. ?Methane can be used in automobiles and there are indications that it is all the way round the world so that has its charm. But I really don?t think we know all the possible applications yet,? he said. In an amusing anecdote concern-ing methane, Dr. McFarlane referred to country singer Wilf Carter, a native of Aulac, New Brunswick, who wrote a song during the Second World War that was called ?When the Ice Worms Nest Again.? ?It was played a lot actually but about 10 years ago in the Gulf of Mexico they discovered worms on methane ice,? said Dr. McFarlane and with a hearty chuckle ?we said we knew that in Canada years ago, Wilf Carter used to sing about it.? Dr. McFarlane said his company?s business is expanding and becoming more international. China and Japan are now markets but noted some caution in dealings with China.?We can sell stuff to them as long as it isn?t massed produced,? he said. But meanwhile ISE has completed construc-tion of four autonomous vehicles for Japan ?and we have got more under- way and we have got one underway for China.? Dr. McFarlane noted a growing demand for underwater vehicles and equipment with a speci c emphasis on equipment for deep water. At 78 Dr. McFarlane, who is president of ISE, remains active in the daily work- ings of the company. There is an enthu- siasm in his voice when he speaks of its accomplishments and what the future may hold, so it is highly unlikely this industry pioneer - whether he likes that label or not - is about to leave anytime soon. Evanscaps are hermetically-sealed tantalum capacitors known for reliable energy in adverse conditions. They deliver sea level and G H H S Z D W H U S R Z H U I R U F R P P X Q L F D W L R Q V F R Q W U R O V S R Z H U À O W U D W L R Q data storage, pulse power, navigation and more. Compact and corrosion-resistant, energy-dense Evanscaps are V S H F L À H G I U R P R X W H U V S D F H W R W K H G H S W K V R I W K H R F H D Q 7 H V W H G W R 10,000 psi for operation under pressure, Evanscaps save space and provide security ? in AUVs, ROVs and at the surface. For technical specs and pricing, check www.evanscap.com/deepwater_products.html The Evans Capacitor Company % R \ G $ Y H ? ( D V W 3 U R Y L G H Q F H 5 , 8 6 $ ? ) D [ AT SEA, RELIABILITY IS EVERYTHING.Marine Technology Reporter 27www.seadiscovery.com MTR #5 (18-33).indd 27MTR #5 (18-33).indd 276/3/2013 1:05:29 PM6/3/2013 1:05:29 PM
