Very Basic

The needed components of a particular Acrobat system depend on the type of research and the environment in which it is to be used. If a collision with the bottom typography is non-existent than the Acrobat can be operated with a minimum of hardware. The Acrobat can be controlled manually while relying on the user owned instrumentation to provide data on depth (i.e. CTD) and position. No computer is required for the Acrobat.

Needed are:

the tow body with motor module and T-cable connection

hand controller to operate the Acrobat manually

connecting cable from tow body to boat

cable terminations

cable gripper if winch not used

limit user instrumentation size and number to that which can be directly fitted to the Acrobat without the optional instrument rack

Intermediate

If a potential impact with the bottom typography is a possibility then the track of the Acrobat must be observed in real-time. This requires a computer, the Acrobat control software, bottom depth and GPS data.

The intermediate Acrobat configuration consists of:

the tow body with motor module and T-cable connection

hand controller to operate the Acrobat manually and override computer control

connecting cable from tow body to boat

cable terminations

winch (manual) or cable gripper if winch not used

control software

computer with 2 serial ports (preferably standard) and dual boot with OS2

GPS generating NMEA 0183 data

Fathometer generating NMEA 0183 depth data and multiplexed with GPS data

limit user instrumentation size and number to that which can be directly fitted to the Acrobat without the optional instrument rack

 

Premium

The premium Acrobat configuration consists of:

the tow body with motor module and T-cable connection

hand controller to operate the Acrobat manually and override computer control

connecting cable from tow body to boat

cable terminations

cable gripper (option)

Control Command Module with active screen display, LTV software installed, all cable connections made except power and sea cable connection plug in, and protected against shock and water damage in a field case

GPS generating NMEA 0183 data

Fathometer generating NMEA 0183 depth data and multiplexed with GPS data

Extend user instrumentation size and number fitted to the Acrobat with the universal instrument rack. The rack can be removed and used separately if vertical profiling is desired

Winch (electric) with slip rings and connector