A Feasibility Study of an Integrated Mobile Data Collection Platform Using an Air Cushion Vehicle. Volume 1

• Main Authors: Hatchwell, Joseph A., Lenton, Ralph A.
• Other Authors: ARCTIC INST OF NORTH AMERICA ARLINGTON VA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1972
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Surface Effect Vehicles & Amphibious Vehicles; *OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA; *GROUND EFFECT MACHINES; DEPLOYMENT; PAYLOAD; COASTAL REGIONS; MISSION PROFILES; SPECIFICATIONS; PERFORMANCE(ENGINEERING); ALASKA; COSTS; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; MOBILE; SAMPLING; FUEL CONSUMPTION; LOGISTICS; NAVAL RESEARCH; RANGE(DISTANCE); AUTOMATIC; ALL WEATHER AVIATION; OCEAN BOTTOM; SEA ICE; ARCTIC REGIONS; BUOYS; BERING SEA; SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH; *VOYAGEUR VEHICLES; ENVIRONMENT; Arctic; Bering Sea; Sea ice; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0901663; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0901663

This is a study report on the feasibility of using the Bell Aerospace Company air cushion vehicle (Voyageur) as a mobile data collection platform in the Arctic. Specifically, the report covers seven areas where this vehicle would serve usefully in support of Naval Arctic Research Laboratory activities. Operational costs of the vehicle are compared with those of other vehicles currently being used in the Arctic. The comparison shows the air cushion vehicle to be competitive with other vehicles in many research investigations, resupply missions, and data collection efforts. A complete description of the vehicle is given in an appendix, along with its special operating parameters.