CSIRO has a long history of deploying towed imaging platforms at depths of up to 4000 m [1], [2], [3]. These systems play a crucial role in gathering environmental observations, particularly in deep water, where fibre-optic data collection is essential for completing large-area surveys in real time due to communication limitations. The complex interaction between the towing cable and the towed body must be thoroughly understood to improve platform stability, particularly in the presence of surface waves. Platform stability is crucial for ensuring high-quality, distortion-free data collection, consistent coverage of marine habitats, and operational safety. However, research on deep-water towed systems remains limited due to high costs and long study durations.
This presentation focuses on performance improvements for CSIRO’s Deep Towed Camera (DTC) system using numerical simulation. Using real-world voyage data from the research vessel (RV) Investigator, we developed a model to simulate system dynamics and compared the results with measured DTC motion data to validate accuracy. This work enables performance optimisation assessment through modelling, ultimately enhancing video quality and deployment success in challenging marine environments.
This presentation will showcase key findings and their implications for future DTC system design and operation.