An Acoustic Profiling Buoy used for Deepsea Noise Observation

A novel acoustic profiling buoy has been developed for undersea noise collection by integrating an acoustic vector sensor (AVS) with an ARGO buoy. Noise measurements involving acoustic pressure and particle velocities are performed via the combined AVS that consists of a hydrophone, a triaxial piezoelectric accelerometer, and inner attitude sensors. Calibrated sensitivities of scalar and vector sensors are –191.5 dB (0 dB re 1 V/μPa) and 2.85 V/g, respectively. A dedicated acoustic signal processor based on an FPGA and a DSP is installed inside the buoy to achieve data collection, processing, and storage. In addition, the acoustic profiling buoy can dive down and rise up between the sea surface and the submersion depth of 2000 m via a buoyancy adjustment unit under the control of microcontroller unit. Communications including commands download and data upload on the sea surface, can be accomplished through Beidou system.