Remote controlled marine sediment sampler and in-situ measuring device

The marine sediment in-situ probe and coring assembly is a lightweight, hydrostatically anchored multi-probe assembly with a centrally located corer. It is used to measure sediment acoustic, thermal, and mass physical properties during incremental penetrations to the five foot sediment depth level, in water depths to 5000 feet. This assembly is operated from an electric d.c. power supply and can function from submersibles or surface vessels. An hardwire FM multiplex telemetry system provides command/control and data transfer between the assembly and the vessel. Preliminary investigations have shown these core samples to be considerably less disturbed than conventionally obtained cores. Present research includes design programs in hydrostatic anchoring and sediment shear strength, and continued work on correlation of parameters determined from this assembly and conventional corers.