POPS

Overview

MetOcean Telematics designed the Polar Ocean Profiling System (POPS) for deployment in the harsh Arctic climate. POPS is an advanced-generation payload for ice platforms. Our experience with sensors, telemetry, and data acquisition have played a major role in the development of the POPS platform.

The POPS platform provides meteorological and oceanographic subsurface data, transmitted via Iridium telemetry (RUDICS). The system consists of five major elements: system controller (CPU), ice platform, meteorological sensors, Iridium data telemetry, and GPS. In addition, POPS includes a subsurface CTD vertical profiling system (NOVA).

The CPU manages all data acquisition, processing, formatting, and messaging. The CPU has been adapted from the highly successful Iridium reporting drifting buoy family of products. The system features a waterproof communication port for easy configuration and verification. The platform power supply consists of two TADIRAN lithium packs for long-term deployment.

The subsurface NOVA profiler is mounted on a 3/16 inch diameter NILSPIN oceanographic cable. The cable is interfaced to the platform using shackles. The inductive modem ground plane is located on the top plate of the platform, and signals are passed to the POPS CPU using a waterproof connector.