Epaulard

EPAULARD is designed to conduct deep water bottom photography and topographic proffiling to depths of 6,000 m. It was launched in 1979 and has made 72 dives since that time; 40 of these dives have been to depths between 1,000 and 5,300 m. The vehicle is launched negatively buoyant and, once it has reached a pre-designated height above the bottom, it drops Its descent wefght and becomes slightly positively buoyant. A drag chain holds it a specified distance (3-7 meters) above the bottom, according to the required resolution of the survey data control EPAULARD´s course ts controlled by an acoustick link from the surface. Having completed Its mission, the vehicle drops an ascent weight and returns to the surface.