ACEP at Work: VDOS Project Logbook – Update

Project Description: ACEP’s Video Debris Observation System (VDOS) project consists of designing, constructing, and testing of a rugged remote video observation system to detect river debris with the goal of protecting hydrokinetic turbines. It will be used to monitor surface debris, typically floating logs, at the AHERC Tanana River Test Site to determine the frequency of debris and monitor its interaction with the AHERC Research Debris Diversion Platform.

Progress Update:  A six week test has been completed on the video system without error.  The system was able to take and store one photo per second and stay online the entire time. The wireless routers have also arrived in the lab and are being installed for testing. The in-lab “onshore” device has had its router installed and a mock offshore device is currently being built. The next step will be to operate the camera on a battery system.  Once completed, the offshore device will be located about 500m away from the base station and we will be testing the ability to transfer images over that distance. Once a long term test has been completed for the wireless network, the two systems will be packaged for the field.

Project Lead: Marc Mueller-Stoffels, mmuellerstoffels@alaska.edu
Project Engineer: Nicholas Konefal
Project Funding: Alaska Energy Authority

Photo Caption:  Nicholas Konefal monitors the status of the VDOS’ in-laboratory testing.  
Photo courtesy of M. Frey, ACEP/UAF.