User manual

Table Of Contents
Pressure Rate
The pressure rate is also used to detect obstacles on the mooring cable that hinder
profiling motion. MMP nominal profiling speed is 25cm/s. When the pressure rate, averaged
over at least 3 minutes, falls below a threshold of 0.045 dbar/s ~ (4.5 cm/s), the firmware detects
a zero pressure rate.
NOTE
Wave induced mooring motions that modulate steady MMP progress could lead to false
detection of a zero pressure rate.
The action taken after a zero pressure rate detection depends on the MMP depth, the
current profiling direction, and the shallow or deep error programmed by the operator.
Ramming Action
In the mid-water region away from the shallow and deep error windows, a zero pressure
rate is interpreted as an obstacle on the mooring cable. The mid-water obstacle ramming
behavior is triggered in an effort to clear the cable and get past the obstruction.
The MMP first backs away from the obstacle for 30 seconds, then moves forward again.
If the ramming behavior is successful the MMP continues the profile. If the obstruction remains,
another zero pressure rate will be detected after 3 minutes and the ramming behavior is repeated.
Ramming is limited to a maximum of five occurrences during any one profile (battery
energy and drive train wear required for 15 minutes of drive wheel slip on the cable is required to
make five detections). A sixth zero pressure rate detection terminates the profile. The sensor
data acquisition continues for two minutes before the firmware stops logging and transfers the
sensor data to the flash card. The detections do not have to be at or near the same depth. Each
restart is logged in the engineering data file.
Ramming can be disabled by extending the shallow and deep errors to cover the full
extent of the profiling range.
Shallow and Deep Pressure Limits
The shallow and deep pressure limits or “stops” are ambient pressure levels (dbars)
between which the MMP travels. When the ambient pressure is less than the shallow pressure
stop on an upward profile or greater than the deep pressure stop on a downward profile, the MMP
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