An Active Node Switching Method Based on Discrete-Voltage Intervention for Seafloor Observation Network

Abstract

AbstractThe cabled seafloor observation network, which provides abundant power and broad bandwidth to seafloor scientific packages, has become one of the most efficient ocean exploration methods because of its long-term, real-time, and sustained presence. However, node failure or maintenance may shut down the system until the situation is cleared. An active node switching method based on discrete-voltage intervention is proposed to establish a reliable and robust underwater electrical network that allows the system to operate partially amid node failure or maintenance. This method switches a specific node on/off from the network whenever necessary. The main structure and operating mechanism of this switching method are presented in this paper. A prototype was established, and several tests were performed in a laboratory to validate its feasibility and reliability. The prototype was then integrated into a pool-testing underwater network that included a 50-km electrical/optical submarine cable between the base station and the junction box. The test results demonstrated that the active node-switching method can efficiently and reliably fix node failure emergency situations for cabled ocean networks.