Development and application of a 6000-meter double decelerating lander

Abstract

The deep-sea lander is an important equipment for in-situ detection and monitoring. It is of great significance to understand the benthic boundary layer’s physical, chemical, and ecological environment. A 6000-meter double decelerating lander was created to meet the deployment requirements of underwater detection and monitoring, allowing for long-term in-situ monitoring of several benthic boundary layer components. Protection of the installed ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) is required due to the lander’s and OBS’s different impact resistances. The double decelerating unit enables the OBS to avoid colliding with the seabed when the lander lands and then collides with the seabed at a slow speed rather than the speed at which the lander falls, which is intended to safeguard OBS from damage. To ensure a safe deployment, the lander’s static analysis and simulation were performed using ANSYS, and the motion characteristics of the application process were derived. Numerous data have been obtained after the lander’s successful application in the South China Sea. The lander provides an investigation approach for marine science and geochemistry, complementing a technical approach to marine environmental investigations.