Current and Future Wet-Mate Connector Technology Developments for Scientific Seabed Observatory Applications

Abstract

This paper will review wet-mate connector technologies being deployed by current cabled seabed observatory projects as well as look forward to technologies under development to further enable connectivity of observatories. The goals of these new technologies include increasing bandwidth, system voltage and operating depth as well as reducing complexity. Wet-mate connector technology has been an essential enabling technology for the establishment of permanent cabled seabed observatories. Projects such as MARS (Monterey Accelerated Research System), VENUS (Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea), ALOHA (A Long-term Oligotrophic Habitat Assessment) and NEPTUNE (North-East Experimental Network Under the Sea) are using a range of technologies and system architectures to meet the specific project requirements and constraints. Wet-mate connectors provide subsea serviceable connections between the backbone cable-to-shore and the observatory or node. At the node, wet-mate connectors allow for the regular interchange of scientific packages. This paper will provide a summary of the connector technologies used in the observatories mentioned above. This includes the unique development of a high voltage (10 kVDC) connector, adaptation of the standard Nautilus connector to transmit 100Base-T Ethernet and development of a compact medium voltage hybrid electric/optic connection system for deployment in >5,000 meters of water. There are several technologies under development that can further enable connectivity of an observatory. High Circuit Density Wet-Mate Optical Connector - The next generation of the I-CONN wet-mateable optical connector will support 12 and 24 circuits in a single, compact connector. This will enable greater bandwidth at a reduced cost per circuit.