Capstone projects serve as the final and ultimate event that undergraduates and some graduates experience before they enter the professional world. This is a culmination of all the theories they have learned during their academic career put into practice. In 2024, four engineering students at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth worked on a project—sponsored by Teledyne Marine—that was directed toward designing a next-generation “Go Anywhere” profiling float. Bob Melvin, the Chief Engineer of Teledyne Marine -Vehicles, supervised the project.
To gain a complete understanding of the ocean, we must gather data from it. One way this is accomplished is by using ocean profiling floats. Profiling floats are indispensable for advancing our understanding of the ocean environment and collecting valuable data in real time to enhance our knowledge of ocean dynamics and improve climate studies. The most basic components of a float are the upper sensor endcap and the lower ballast engine, which provides the ability to reach extreme depths of the ocean. A standard profiling float will descend to 1000 meters, sleep for ten days, and then descend further to 2000 meters before ascending to the surface, making measurements along the way. This vertical profiling is crucial for understanding the temperature and salinity gradients with depth. During its mission, it will freely drift with the ocean currents, providing data from diverse and remote regions for global coverage to better understand our ocean ecosystem.
Teledyne Marine's profiling floats work at 2,000-meter depths in the ocean. They return a large amount of data from their journeys to the surface. This data is critical for research on oceanographic conditions. The profiling floats need to be reliable and operate successfully in the deep ocean for long periods. Teledyne Marine's floats have always had very effective buoyancy systems. Still, innovation, new technologies, and a cutting-edge approach are the core of their work. Finding technologies and concepts that improve the current system was in their wheelhouse. That is where the students at UMass Dartmouth entered the equation.
Students initially researched the competitive landscape using a SWOT analysis framework. What did the competitors do well, and what didn't they, primarily related to the buoyancy engine and endurance? Most importantly, how could Teledyne advance its technology? They then translated what they learned into an alternative for the buoyancy engines and energy—Teledyne's profiling float. The current profiling float has already proven itself in the field, so any new version needed to be even better and meet even loftier goals. The focus for the students became how to improve the energy and buoyancy of the profiling floats, both fundamental components that enable the floats to function effectively.
The students evaluated the world’s water densities to determine the ideal buoyancy engine size. They researched pumps, motors, bladders, and battery chemistries, testing performance using constructed assemblies and test fixtures.
Their concept of “Go Anywhere” float is well-equipped to take on many different environments and tasks. It can function in the challenging conditions that some aquatic sensors must work in, such as the cold waters of the Arctic or the extreme salinity of the Persian Gulf.
“Commitment to innovation drives Teledyne Marine, and teaming with UMass Dartmouth professors and their students’ capstone projects is a great way to evaluate new technologies. The students were motivated and talented, working well as a team to engineer and test a concept. Teledyne has used its learnings to roadmap future projects. I look forward to more capstone opportunities,” said Bob Melvin, Chief Engineer of Teledyne Marine -Vehicles.
For more information and to stay current with events related to this project, contact Teledyne Marine The project was led by UMass Dartmouth engineering students Chris Pirie (team lead), Arianna Roberts, Ian Mederios, and Tanner Safford. The team was guided by advisors Professor Amit Tandon and graduate student Patrick Pasteris; capstone instructor Associate Teaching Professor Hamed Samandari; and Teledyne Marine Chief Engineer Bob Melvin (primary contact). The UMass Dartmouth College of Engineering capstone program is led by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Computer and Information Science Iren Valova.
