Hydrodynamics for Towed and Tethered Systems       

This project will further develop CSIRO’s Deep Towed Camera system to improve its hydrodynamic performance and stability in challenging environments.

 

The Problem

Towed imaging platforms aim to capture high-quality videos and images of the sea floor and marine animals to provide critical data on biodiversity. While collecting images and video with underwater towed imaging platforms, the ship’s interaction with surface waves leads to translation and rotation in the towed body through the towing cable, thus affecting the image quality and video stability.

 

The Solution

The project begins with modelling the dynamic system to comprehensively gain insight into and understand the system’s hydrodynamics. The proposed changes will undergo simulation-based evaluation, with different design iterations tested using scaled models to identify the optimal modifications. By comparing simulation data, scaled model test results, and data from the deep-towed camera system deployment during voyages, the most appropriate method to enhance hydrodynamic stability will be applied to the current system.

 

Collaborators

This project is lead by Alasdair Currie and is supported by IWY Postdoctoral Fellow Skylar Yao.