Real-time metocean sensor arrays

Abstract

A real-time metocean sensor array system may include a one or more floating instruments each including geolocation capabilities and connected to a satellite communication network. In some examples, the floating instruments may further include an omnidirectional hydrophone. Motion and acoustical data gathered by the instruments may be converted by onboard processing logic into wave, current, and/or wind-related observations that may be communicated in real time and analyzed via a cloud-based system.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for estimating metocean characteristics of a body of water, the method comprising:
 using displacement data from an onboard displacement measuring device of a metocean sensor to determine local wave spectrum energy levels in an equilibrium range, wherein the metocean sensor is free-floating on the body of water;   using the displacement data from the onboard displacement measuring device to determine a mean local wave direction in the equilibrium range;   calculating a first estimate of a local surface wind speed, based on the wave spectrum energy levels; and   calculating an estimated local surface wind direction based on the mean local wave direction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising calculating a second estimate of the local surface wind speed, based on local acoustic information. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising combining the first and second estimates of the local surface wind speed into a third estimate of the local surface wind speed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 communicating the first estimate of the local surface wind speed and the estimated local surface wind direction to a remote computer network.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the remote computer network, calculated metocean characteristics of the body of water from one or more other freely-floating metocean sensors.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein using the displacement data from the onboard displacement measuring device comprises using data from a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. 
     
     
         23 . A device for estimating metocean characteristics of a body of water, the device comprising:
 a floating metocean sensor unit comprising a hull enclosing processing logic in communication with an onboard displacement measuring device, wherein the processing logic is configured to:
 use displacement data from the onboard displacement measuring device to determine wave spectrum energy levels in an equilibrium range; 
 use the displacement data to determine a mean wave direction in the equilibrium range; 
 calculate a first estimate of a surface wind speed, based on the wave spectrum energy levels; and 
 calculate an estimated surface wind direction based on the mean wave direction. 
   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising a hydrophone in communication with the processing logic; wherein the processing logic is further configured to calculate a second estimate of the surface wind speed, based on acoustic information from the hydrophone. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to combine the first and second estimates of the surface wind speed into a third estimate of the surface wind speed. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the onboard displacement measuring device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the onboard displacement measuring device comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU). 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising an onboard nonvolatile memory, the processing logic further configured to store the first estimate of the surface wind speed and the estimated surface wind direction in the onboard nonvolatile memory. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the processing logic is further configured to communicate the first estimate of the surface wind speed and the estimated surface wind direction to a remote server. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the device is free floating on the body of water. 
     
     
         31 . A system for estimating metocean characteristics, the system comprising:
 a plurality of free-floating metocean sensor units disposed on a body of water, each unit comprising a hull enclosing processing logic in communication with an onboard displacement measuring device, wherein the processing logic is configured to:
 use displacement data from the onboard displacement measuring device to determine local wave spectrum energy levels in an equilibrium range; 
 use the displacement data from the onboard displacement measuring device to determine a local mean wave direction in the equilibrium range; 
 calculate a first estimate of a surface wind speed, based on the local wave spectrum energy levels; and 
 calculate an estimated surface wind direction based on the local mean wave direction; and 
   a computer network in remote communication with the plurality of metocean sensor units, such that the network is configured to receive the first estimate of the surface wind speed and the estimated surface wind direction from each of the metocean sensor units.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of the metocean sensor units further comprises a hydrophone in communication with the processing logic; wherein the processing logic of the at least one of the metocean sensor units is further configured to calculate a second estimate of the surface wind speed, based on acoustic information from the hydrophone. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the processing logic of the at least one of the metocean sensor units is further configured to combine the first and second estimates of the surface wind speed into a third estimate of the surface wind speed. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the onboard displacement measuring device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the onboard displacement measuring device comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU). 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 31 , each of the metocean sensor units further comprising an onboard nonvolatile memory, the processing logic further configured to store the first estimate of the surface wind speed and the estimated surface wind direction in the onboard nonvolatile memory.