December 21, 2006
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for your responses to the 27 November 2006 survey requesting your
thoughts on viewport configurations for the Replacement HOV (RHOV). Chris
German, Chief Scientist for Deep Submergence Operations at WHOI, prepared
a summary of this survey <Viewport_Survey_Summary_122006>,
including input from pilots, and presented it to the Oversight Committee by
teleconference on 20 December 2006. We also heard a review of the trade-offs
by WHOI Project Manager Bob Brown and comments from other WHOI representatives.
Bob, Chris, and Maurice Tivey used the RHOV sphere mock-up at WHOI to test
some of the expressed concerns about ease of viewing and visibility through
side viewports. The results of their in-sphere experience are also documented
in Chris's report.
The outcome of the teleconference discussion is the recommendation from the
Oversight Committee to WHOI that they pursue the 5-7-7-7-5 (numbers refer
to viewport diameters, in inches, with the two 5" viewports being the
lateral ones) viewport arrangement, with the side viewports moved approximately
one viewport diameter forward to enhance viewing options and comfort and to
increase viewport visibility by the pilot, and with modifications to the vehicle
design to enhance the protection of the lateral viewports from strikes and
hot water. The proposed viewport arrangement will yield a total field
of view that is slightly greater than what is currently available with
Best Wishes for the Holidays,
Cindy
Cindy Lee Van Dover
Chair, Replacement HOV Oversight Committee
Director, Duke University Marine Laboratory
Chair, Division of Coastal Science & Policy
tel: 252-504-7655
fax: 252-504-7648
c.vandover@duke.edu