DeepSound is a high-bandwidth acoustic recording, free-falling system designed to profile ambient noise from the surface to depths of 12 km. The recording platform is autonomous and descends under gravity at 0.5 m/s to its pre-programmed maximum depth, where a burn wire releases a weight, permitting the system to return to the surface under its own buoyancy.

Movies

DeepSound III Deployment During Sea Trials

DeepSound III Recovery During Sea Trials

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DeepSound II and DeepSound III Deployment during Challenger Deep Expedition

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Audio

Recording of an Implosion within the Challenger Deep by DSII

Recording of the Implosion within the Challenger Deep by the R/V Falkor’s ship hydrophone

Pictures

Specs

DeepSound MK I DeepSound MK II DeepSound MK III
Glass Sphere Vitrovex

  • 17″ Diameter
  • Depth rating 9 km
  • 231 N buoyancy
 Vitrovex

  • 17″ Diameter
  • Depth rating 9 km
  • 231 N buoyancy
 Vitrovex

  • 17″ Diameter
  • Depth rating 12 km
  • 200 N buoyancy
Hydrophones ITC 6050C

  • 2 Hydrophones separated vertically by .5 m spacing
  • Sea state zero with -157 dB re 1v/\muPa
  • 30 to 75 kHz omnidirectional response
  • Built-in low noise 20 dB preamp
 HTI-94 SSQ

  • 4 Hydrophones separated horizontally by 4 cm spacing
  • Sea state zero with -157 dB re 1v/\muPa
  • 2 to 40 kHz Omnidirectional response
  • Built-in low noise 20 dB preamp
 HTI-99-DY

  • 4 Hydrophones separated horizontally and vertically
Sensors Paroscientific Pressure Sensor 9000-20K 

  • Temperature compensated
  • Pressure 0-14 km
  • Pressure performance .01% accuracy of full scale
  • 1 x 10
  • High stability and reliability

SBE 38 Digital Oceanographic Thermometer

  • stabitility of 0.001 C
  • 10,500 meter titanium housing
  • -5 to +35 C

No conductivity sensor

 FSI Standard 2″ MCTD

  • Compact conductivity, temperature, and depth meter with direct digital output
  • Temperature compensated
  • Pressure 0- 9 km
  • Pressure performance accuracy .02%
  • Temperature -2 to +32 C
  • Temperature accuracty 0.002 C
  • Conductivity 0-7.0 S/m
  • Conductivity accuracy 0.0002 S/m
 Valeport MIDAS SVX2

  • Direct reading sound veracity profiler with CTD
  • Titanium housing
  • Pressure 0-12 km
  • Fast response PRT temperature sensor
Embedded PC Arcom Apollo EBX 

  • Low power Intel Pentium M
  • Fan-less operation
  • 13 Watts
  • Harddrive 150 GB
 Kontron 986LCD-M/mITX

  • Low power Celeron M 1.06 GHz
  • Fan-less operation
  • 5 Watts
  • Solid state harddrive 128GB
 VIA EPIA N700-05LE

  • Low power 500MHz VIA EdenTM ULV
  • Fan-less operation
  • Solid state hard drive 250GB
A/C National Instruments NI PCI-4462

  • 4 simultaneously sampled analog inputs
  • Sample frequency 204.8 kHz
  • 114 dB dynamic range
  • 24 bit resolution
 National Instruments NI PCI-4462

  • 4 simultaneously sampled analog inputs
  • Sample frequency 204.8 kHz
  • 114 dB dynamic range
  • 24 bit resolution
 National Instruments NI PCI-4462

  • 4 simultaneously sampled analog inputs
  • Sample frequency 204.8 kHz
  • 114 dB dynamic range
  • 24 bit resolution
Power OceanServer Technology BA95HC

  • 4 Lithium Ion
  • 95 Whr
  • 14.4 Volts
  • 6.6 Ah
  • Ek05 Battery Controller
  • ATX regulated DC
 OceanServer Technology BA95HC

  • 4 Lithium Ion
  • 95 Whr
  • 14.4 Volts
  • 6.6 Ah
  • Ek05 Battery Controller
  • ATX regulated DC
 OceanServer Technology BA95HC

  • 4 Lithium Ion
  • 95 Whr
  • 14.4 Volts
  • 6.6 Ah
  • Ek05 Battery Controller
  • ATX regulated DC
Tracking Novatech Argos Beacon AS-900ANovaTech Xenon Flashers ST-400ARNovaTech Radio Beacon RF-700AR

  • Channel 160.725 MHz
 Novatech Argos Beacon AS-900ANovaTech Xenon Flashers ST-400ARNovaTech Radio Beacon RF-700AR

  • Channel 160.725 MHz
 Telonics TGE-401 GPS/ARGOS instrumnetation w/ VHF

  • Channel 160.725 MHz