didson.com
Acoustic Camera Mount
Background:
High resolution multibeam acoustic systems are sometimes referred to as acoustic cameras, because of their ability to determine the size and behavior of fish and other aquatic species which enter their aperture. These systems are made by companies such as the Didson unit by Sound Metrics. These systems which produce data which looks like underwater video are not, unsurprisingly, cheap. This project will focus on deployment options for a Didson in Maine. In particular the system needs to provide a stable platform on an uneven footing in a dam spillway. The testing will include work at a model scale with drag calculations for the tow tank, fabrication of a full size system with a dummy camera which will include data acquisition equipment to allow logging of the results from testing in the spillway. At the end of the project the $100,000 plus hardware will be deployed on the system designed by the team. It is also likely that a published note or other academically related result can come out of the project. The team will work closely with Dr. Gayle Zydlewski in the School of Marine Sciences and Dr. Joe Zydlewski in UMaine wildlife ecology and the USGS. This is a project where results will be expected and you will be expected to be able to work outside of the lab in the great outdoors.
Deliverables
1. Basic calculations and/or measurements of the drag on the Didson system
2. Review of alternative mounting approaches and alternative design
3. Selection and presentation of justification for decision making.
4. Design, build and tow tank test of the scale model mounting system
5. Design of full scale system including professional quality drawing pack and vended parts list
6. Data acquisition system designed and installed in dummy camera mount
7. System completed and tested in water
8. Operational results for a system on the dam for at least one week of operation
Draft Milestones
# Project Team Selection Complete: September 1, 2011
# First Revised Milestones Submitted: September 8, 2011
# Design Notebook Initial sign-off: September 13, 2011
# First performance data on existing design: September 22, 2011
# Initial data for the benchmark system: September 25, 2011
# System Schematic: October 2nd, 2011
# First web page goes live with introductory page and menu on left. Page must include resumes, individual photos and milestones: October 4, 2011, 4 pm.
# Milestone review: October 25, 2011
# Draft Midterm Report: November 30th , 2011
# Midterm Report due as a PDF posted as a completed web page: December 8th, 5 pm
# System Complete and testing data available: March 10 - 15, 2012
# Lab Cleanup & Infrastructure Project Completed: Maine Day, April 25, 2012
# Open House -- Review of Projects, April 26, 2012, Afternoon
# Final Web Page submitted, for review during final exam period: Monday May 3rd, 2012 Noon