An Autonomous Ocean Profiling and Water Sampling System for 0 to 11 km of Water Depth

该项目将建立一个自主系统，测量物理、化学和生物特性，并对全球海洋深度范围内（海平面以下0至11公里）的海水进行采样。由于该系统将在整个深度范围内部署，它将大大促进对深海化学，水团结构和所有水深浮游生态系统的理解。由于该系统将自动对深水进行剖面和采样，因此它将取代人工引导的基于电缆的操作，在任何深度进行海洋剖面和水采样。因此，通过允许船上科学小组在水柱采样和分析的同时进行其他甲板操作，将大大减少现场操作所需的时间和费用。最独特的是，拟议中的系统将首次使对极深（6000-11000 mbsl）海洋的普遍研究成为可能。在这个项目完成后，该系统将作为共享使用的工具提供给科学界。该自主系统将在从海面到海底再返回的过程中对整个水柱的物理和化学特性进行分析。在回程中，它将使用改良的尼斯金瓶和保压水采样器采集多达24个水样。采样策略将是灵活的，易于编程，可以在特定的深度层（例如，间隔在100到10000米之间的10个深度）自主采样，或者根据记录的变化自适应采样，并自动识别盐度、温度、密度或氧含量。在项目的第二年，该系统将在实验室和海上进行两次试验考察。该系统的试探性考察将为科学家和学生提供实地考察机会、样品和数据，以便研究北大西洋西部和深海海沟（可能是波多黎各海沟）的深海生物、化学和物理过程。这次探险将重点为来自URI和少数民族主导机构的学生创造机会，特别是在波多黎各，第二次探险可能在那里开始和结束。该计划将透过以下途径，让本科生和研究生设计海洋仪器及进行海上研究：(i)开设海洋工程设计课程，介绍仪器的发展；（ii）让本科生和研究生参与考察；（iii）在港口地区进行船舶参观和介绍；（iv）由其他研究生研究考察的样本和数据。最后，该项目将为科学仪器设计和软件开发方面的研究生培训提供助学金和学费。这些努力将从几个方面满足国家科学基金会更广泛影响的标准，包括妇女、残疾人和代表性不足的少数民族参与科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM），以及发展多样化、具有全球竞争力的STEM劳动力。

This project will build an autonomous system that measures physical, chemical and biological properties and samples seawater throughout the full global range of ocean depths (0 to 11 km below sea level). Because this system will be deployable over this entire depth range, it will significantly advance understanding of deep-sea chemistry, watermass structure and planktonic ecosystems at all water depths. Because the system will profile and sample deep water autonomously, it will replace human-guided wire-based operations for oceanic profiling and water sampling at any depth. Consequently, it will significantly reduce the time and expense required for on-site operations by allowing shipboard science parties to undertake other deck operations simultaneously with water-column sampling and profiling. Most uniquely, the proposed system will make pervasive study of the very deep (6000-11000 mbsl) ocean feasible for the first time. At completion of this project, the system will be made available to the scientific community as a shared-use instrument.This autonomous system will profile the physical and chemical properties of the entire water column during the trip from sea surface to seafloor and back again. During the return trip, it will take up to 24 water samples with modified Niskin bottles and pressure-retaining water samplers. Sampling strategies will be flexible and easily programmed to autonomously take samples at specific depth horizons (e.g., 10 depths spaced between 100 and 10000 meters) or adaptively based on transitions recorded and automatically identified in salinity, temperature, density or oxygen content. The system will be tested in the laboratory and at sea on two trial expeditions in the second project year. The trial expeditions for this system will provide field opportunities, samples and data for scientists and students to study deep-sea biological, chemical and physical processes in the western North Atlantic and a deep-sea trench (probably the Puerto Rico Trench). The expeditions will focus on creating opportunities for students from URI and minority-dominated institutions, especially in Puerto Rico, where the second expedition may begin and end. The project will introduce undergraduate and graduate students to design of oceanographic instruments and sea-going research through: (i) an Ocean Engineering design class based on the proposed instrument development, (ii) inclusion of undergraduate and graduate students on the expeditions, (iii) ship tours and presentations in the port region(s), (iv) study by other graduate students of samples and data from the expeditions. Finally, the project will provide a stipend and tuition for graduate student training in scientific instrument design and software development. These efforts will address NSF Broader Impact criteria in several ways, including participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce.