IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering · 2002 · 36 citations · 18 references
EngineeringEarth SciencesElectrical EngineeringMarine Power SystemsOcean InstrumentationVolcanologyMarine InstrumentationMarine Power DistributionPower Systems For Ocean InstrumentsSubmarine VolcanismSubsea InstrumentationSubsea Power SystemsCable SystemsElectrical Power SystemsPower Supply Design For Ocean ObservatoriesShore PowerSubmarine VolcanoesSubsea Cable Power DistributionSubsea Electrical InfrastructureSubsea Power Cables
HUGO functions like an astronomical observatory, enabling scientists to conduct experiments and share resources. The paper describes HUGO, an infrastructure installed to support research on undersea volcanism at Loihi, and outlines its operational history. HUGO comprises a shore station, an electro‑optical cable, a junction box, multiplexing nodes, and experiment interfaces, enabling power, command, and real‑time data for over 100 ocean‑floor instruments. Although the main cable shorted in 1998, HUGO successfully laid a 47‑km cable, installed and serviced a junction box, operated electro‑optical connectors, and transmitted power, commands, and high‑rate data while recording seismic, biological, and oceanographic signals for three months.
The Hawaii Undersea Geo-Observatory, HUGO, was installed with the intent of supplying infrastructure for researchers interested in studies of undersea volcanism and associated phenomena at Loihi, the newest volcano of the Hawaiian chain. Much like an astronomical observatory, HUGO is a facility where scientists can perform experiments while sharing resources with others. The main components of HUGO are the shore station, supplying power to the observatory and recording data; the main cable-an electro-optical cable connecting the shore station to the summit of Loihi; the Junction box-the power distribution and data collection center on Loihi; multiplexing (mux) nodes-secondary distribution points; and experiments supplied by scientists. HUGO can potentially supply electrical power, command capability and real-time data service to more than 100 instruments connected and removed on the ocean floor by submersible or ROV. HUGO was installed on October 11, 1997, but the main cable developed an electrical short circuit to sea water on April 26, 1998, and a new cable must be obtained and installed before routine operations can continue. Despite the failure, several important tasks have been accomplished, including: 1) the successful small-ship lay of the 47-km electro-optical cable from the Island of Hawaii to the summit of Loihi submarine volcano; 2) installation and servicing of the Junction box; 3) successful operation of electro-optical connectors on the ocean floor by submersible; 4) installation and removal of experiments on the ocean floor; 5) transmission of power and commands from shore to experiments installed at HUGO; 6) transmission of high-rate, high-fidelity data from the summit of Loihi to shore in real time; and 7) recording of volcanic, earthquake, biological, ocean wave and ship noises for a period of three months. This paper provides a general description of the HUGO system and its history of operation.
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