Controllable Tail Buoy for Marine Survey Signal Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine survey systems face interference from surface waves and obstacles, which induce noise in signal detection and hinder the accuracy of data acquisition due to the movement of tail buoys associated with sensor streamers.
Innovation Solution
A tail buoy system that can be selectively submerged and steered to minimize surface chop-induced noise and avoid obstacles, equipped with communication systems for command reception and buoyancy control to maintain sensor streamer depth and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the tail buoy remains on the surface to maintain visibility and orientation, then the survey system can track the streamer position, but surface waves and obstacles induce noise in signal detection
Solution Approach 1:
The tail buoy is designed with dynamic depth control capability, allowing it to transition between surface and submerged states based on operational conditions. The buoyancy control system enables the tail buoy to submerge when surface waves create excessive noise interference, and surface when clear conditions allow for better streamer tracking, thus dynamically adapting to resolve the contradiction between signal accuracy and wave interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the depth parameter of the tail buoy dynamically. By adjusting the buoyancy force through ballast adjustment or gas bladder inflation/deflation, the tail buoy can change its vertical position from surface level to submerged depths, thereby changing the operating parameter to avoid surface wave interference while maintaining streamer orientation capability.
2Measurement precision
If the tail buoy is submerged to reduce surface chop-induced noise, then signal detection accuracy improves, but the ability to avoid surface obstacles is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tail buoy employs dynamic depth adjustment to adapt to varying operational conditions. When the water is calm or obstacles are minimal, the buoy operates at surface level for optimal obstacle avoidance. When surface waves become problematic, the buoy submerges to reduce noise. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to resolve the contradiction between signal accuracy and obstacle avoidance by selecting the appropriate depth based on real-time environmental assessment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tail buoy is made controllable with buoyancy control, then the system can adapt to different sea conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tail buoy incorporates self-regulating buoyancy control mechanisms that can automatically adjust their buoyancy force in response to environmental conditions. The buoyancy control system includes sensors that detect water conditions and automatically inflate or deflate gas bladders or adjust ballast, enabling the buoy to adapt to sea conditions without requiring complex external control systems or continuous human intervention, thus reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The tail buoy system reduces noise in signal detection, enhances data accuracy, and prevents entanglement with other streamers or obstacles by controlling its submersion and steering, thereby improving the reliability of marine surveys in adverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a tail buoy where the tail buoy may be selectively submerged
Data Source
AI summary
Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy.