Oceans have been explored for thousands of years, but their origin is still unknown. Exploring them gives us an understanding of how life emerged and evolved. They contain magnificent ecosystems waiting to be discovered, and it is Ulysses' objective to help research institutes explore the seas.
Ulysses is a system of solar powered buoys that provides a constant supply of energy to underwater research instruments.
Its goal is to maximize the use of solar power in long expeditions
Here is how it works:
A 72 cell Solar Panel gathers the energy throughout the day.
The Hull contains (3) 12V 110 Ah batteries to store the energy
The Research Instrument receives a constant supply of power
Depending on the amount of energy required, more buoys can be added to provide more power.
The Panel's main feature is its ability to adapt to the position of the sun.
Ulysses works with Research Institutes to achieve a successful expedition by being able to power a variety of instruments
Coastal Profiling
(MBARI, 2017)
Sonar Transducer
Systems
(MBARI)
Reef Mounted
Instruments
(USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, 2017)
Different investigations require different ways to collect data.
These are a few of the instruments that can be powered with the Ulysses system
The concept of Ulysses came from a deep interest in Marine Lifeforms and their connection to energy gathering
It started by taking the early drafts of the idea, understanding how the system could work, and exploring ways in which the form can tell the story of marine exploration.
A 1:4 scale model served to convey the idea and to show the design in a more tangible way.
The model was made with CNC milled MDF, painted, and an acrylic sheet as the solar panel.
