To succeed at developing a nationwide Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), stakeholders in academia, government, and industry must forge and maintain strategic partnerships. The South Florida Ocean Measurement Center (SFOMC) is such a partnership model and mutually beneficial collaboration
that is conducting year-in and year-out major at-sea operations, sustaining the operation of a complex array of sub sea sensors, and providing the maintenance and the shore-based infrastructure to support both. The transformation of a longstanding, narrowly focused, and somewhat antiquated
(but highly capable) Navy test and evaluation facility is described. Formerly plagued with a decreasing customer base and increasing operational costs, the Center's transformation into this now fully integrated coalition has mitigated these forerunners of extinction while answering both Navy
and academic needs. The successful partnership has resulted in modern facilities, a broad customer base, and steadily decreasing costs of operation. Examples are provided that demonstrate the ability of the Navy's South Florida Testing Facility (SFTF) to realize user cost savings and to aid
in the convergence of interest and capabilities among a variety of user groups toward the solution of problems of national concern, including naval research, homeland security, and environmental stewardship.
A rapidly deployable, intelligent GATEWAY buoy system, capable of both air and sea deployment, has been developed to aid in the navigation and communication of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). The device is based around the A-sized (sonobuoy) standard and is deployable from aircraft,
helicopters, ships and submarines using pressure and gravity launch tubes or charge-activated devices. The system consists of Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) acoustic modems, both capable of providing Long Base Line (LBL) positioning, Global
Positioning System (GPS) Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and Radio Frequency (RF) communications. It utilizes a combined parachute and anchor, a low drag inflatable buoy, and an intelligent scope-adjusting mooring line spool. The design is based around a “fire-and-forget”
methodology which, when the system is turned on and launched, requires no initial knowledge of the operating environment. The interoperable acoustic communication (ACOMMS) system can be operated at ranges up to 3000 meters and can achieve a true data rate of up to 860 bits-per-second using
reliable spread-spectrum frequency modulation. The LBL positioning system operates sequentially and does not preclude acoustic communications. Switching between protocols (FAU or WHOI) is achieved through an automated process or is requested via RF commands. The mechanical system is modular
and compact. The system is capable of operating in depths between 5 m and 200 m, in conditions up to sea state 3, and in currents up to 1.5 m/s. The mooring is versatile and able to hold in bottom types ranging from mud and sand to broken rock and reef.
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