The industry's recognized authority for design, engineering and application of equipment and services in the global ocean community
Issue link: http://sea-technology.epubxp.com/i/639963
12 st / February 2016 www.sea-technology.com (later Fugro), which used the multi- plexer on their frst FCV3000 ROVs. NEXUS MK V In 2004, one of our large custom- ers asked for a Nexus MK I-size mul- tiplexer ftted with a couple of video interfaces. At the same time, Focal introduced the new mux board 907 based on a PC104 form factor PCB. MacArtney developed the NEXUS 907, which was later renamed NEX- US MK V and had the MB sonar in- terface included. EMGS Norway is a major customer of this model. NEXUS MK IV In 2007, the NEXUS MK I had a major upgrade and was named Nexus MK IV. In 2009, we changed the con- fguration to meet the requirements from rental companies. This meant that the same multiplexer could con- nect to a dual MB sonar setup, both the older type with (P)ECL interface and the new ones with Gb-Ethernet. Power supplies were prepared for both types, so it was just a matter of using the right harness cable and then changing the settings in the INI fles in the software. This NEXUS was now called NEX- US MK IV (second generation). It is used as an add-on plug-and-play te- lemetry system together with MBES and many different survey sensors. NEXUS MK E For many years, customers from the ocean science community had asked for a multiplexer that could be used together with their existing CTD cables, often up to a length of 8,000 m on big winches. They could not afford to switch to electro/opti- cal cables and include fber-optic- rotary-joint with the slip ring on the winch, but they wanted connection to additional sensors together with their existing CTD system or custom- developed instrumentation packages. With the NEXUS MK E launched in 2010, they got the possibility of connecting one video camera, eight serial channels and one low-band- width Ethernet, transmitting data over 6,000 to 10,000 m coax cable. LED light control is also possible, and if the customer subsequently wants to upgrade to fber-optic telemetry, an OptoLink connector can be installed in the fange. These systems are used, for example, in ocean science studies down to 6,000 m depth. The typical application for the NEXUS MK E is to interface a camera and light with CTD equipment in a drop camera, tow sledge or CTD rosette package. NEXUS MK VI With the introduction of HD un- derwater cameras for ROV pipeline surveys, the MacArtney offces in Stavanger, Aberdeen and Houston were often asked for the possibility to add a 3x HD camera interface to the NEXUS MK IV. One model was made with an add-on camera pod, but Ma- cArtney soon realized that in order to sell this product it had to be plug and play. Thanks to the new Focal 907 fex board a new NEXUS system was therefore designed. In 2013, the NEXUS MK VI was released, offering the interfacing of HD video cameras together with the dual-head MB sonar head operation. Within just two years, 11 NEXUS MK VI systems have been sold. The NEX- US MK VI systems have been used on several deep-tow sonar systems dur- ing SAR (search and rescue) opera- tions, including the search for Malay- sian Airlines MH370. NEXUS MK C MacArtney has also been making several customized multiplexer so- lutions involving the NEXUS MK C. One example was used in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. In April 2010, 80 km offshore and 1.5 km below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, an explosive blowout un- derneath the BP rig Deepwater Hori- zon caused the most disastrous oce- anic oil spill in the history of subsea drilling. For several months, authori- ties battled the enormous quantity of crude oil that would eventually affect the ecosystem and economy of the entire Gulf region. Biological oceanographer Dr. Ian MacDonald and his colleagues at Florida State University (FSU) and the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) researched and analyzed the spill impact on life in the deep-sea realm of the Gulf of Mexico. Under- standing these impacts is crucial for charting the Gulf's recovery and pre- paring for future accidents. As part of their toolkit, FSU as- sembled the MILET (Modular Instru- ment Lander and Equipment Toolsled)