Re: IR Camera boards

[protek@shreve.net]

    OK, I guess I will put my 2 cents worth in on the Window/IR Camera
issue for what it's worth.  Building a sub without viewports is not a
reasonable move.  Of all the factors that go into building a working
submersible, viewport design is by far not the most complicated or
expensive.  They are just to essential to omit.  I am not familiar with IR
penetration in various water conditions but on face value it sounds good to
me, not terribly expensive and perhaps will give a new dimension of utility
to sub ventures.  But this approach should not be used to replace viewports
for depths that this group will be designing to.
    One other factor that will cause problems for 90 percent of the sub
drivers is the following:  It has been proven (I believe Navy studies) that
a lack of viewports in favor of on-board TV causes claustraphobia in
serious measure.  Viewports are NOT difficult to maintain.  Get the book by
Stachiw "Acrylic Plastic Viewports" from Marcell Decker.
    Just a couple of ideas that may have merit for you.  My experience in
using my dry sub "The Vindicator" is that I have problems in lakes knowing
my position relative to shore, obstacles, and underwater terrain features.
After you have been submerged for a few minutes you start wondering where
the heck you are.  The not so good solution that I have always applied is
to surface and look.  Surfacing though uses valuable ballast air.  I have
two approaches to solving this in the near future that are in some ways
related to what the group has been discussing.  First, I am planning to add
a periscope consisting of a small CCD visible spectrum camera on an
extension above the hatch.  You can get a standard CCD B&W camera for $50.
I will then not have to surface to get a visual fix.  I can just come to
the surface and make an observation without blowing ballast tanks.  Second,
I have purchased a GPS module and antenna that is RS-232C interfacable to
an on-board microprocessor.  The antenna can be placed on the same
periscope platform so that coming to the surface can also give me a GPS
fix.  No, GPS signals do not penetrate deep into water fresh or salt.  So
you will have to bring the sub to periscope depth.
    One last possibly helpful hint...  A company called Precision
Navigation, Inc. makes an electronic sensing compass module that is sold by
Jameco Electronics for $50.  This compass can be remote located to give you
direction.  You will not be able to, in general, rely on an on-board
compass because of the magnetic properties of the hull itself.  You will
most probably need to mount an outside compass module.

Gary Boucher