Design and tests of a real time SonTek ADP system

Real time-current measurement systems were required for use in a new Physical Oceanographic Real Time System (PORTS) being designed for the Houston ship channel in Galveston Bay. The new SonTek Acoustic Doppler Profiler (ADP) was selected for the project. The ADPs were configured to output data in real time on request from a remote station by `polling' and simultaneously record on an internal PCMCIA recorder. The ADP's required protection from trawlers that work the ship channel requiring the design and development of a trawl resistant platform. The platform is fabricated from fiberglass and designed to house either SonTek or RD Instruments miniature current profilers. A variety of tests were performed on the ADP's in various stages of development. Platform tests were conducted at the Naval Surface Warfare Center