User Guide

The following slides are ment to provide a little insight into the scientific capabilities of QUEST, and the kind of access that scientists will have to samples and data during a cruise. However, this information is everything but complete, and shall only show some inspirative examples collected during previous expeditions.

(Click on the images for a detailed view)

Two seperate PAL color video feeds are continuosly recorded on 1-hour Mini-DV tapes during an entire dive. Starting with bottom contact and finishing with the begin of ascend from the seafloor, 1 feed is automatically frame-grabbed in 5 or 10 secs. interval. The cameras are mounted on independent pan/tilt units. The scientist at the supervising position is responsible for videotape handling and change during the dive.

A dedicated, downward looking 3-chip camera can be mounted for video mosaicking. The camera fits into the central toolskid bay and comes with a separate 150W HID floodlight. Mosaicking can be performed by the science party after a dive using the postprocessing tool "ADELIE Video" developed by IFREMER.

Digital still photographs are taken upon request by either the pilots or a trained scientist. Image resolution is 3.5 MPix. Images are available after each dive.

A 3-chip HDTV color zoom camera provides an extremely detailed view. The corrected lens stack includes a powerful 14x zoom, enabling both detailed overviews during flight, as well as exceptional details when zoomed in. The camera is mounted on the starboard toolskid drawer as standard.

Display of the HD-feed is performed on dedicated monitors in the van and lab. Recording is done on broadcast standard Sony HDCam tapes, on demand or request. Again, the scientists are responsible for tape changes.

A forward loocking, 675 kHz Kongsberg scanning sonar provides continuous information in variable ranges up to 200 m. Applications are navigation, morphology mapping (i.e. chimneys), device detection and gas flare detection. The sonar screen is displayed inside the control van and operated by the pilots.

A Benthos SIS 1600 series sidescan sonar is mounted onto the toolskid as standard. It can be used for a number of mapping tasks. During a dive, the sidescan will have to be supervised and operated by the science party, from a client station in the lab. A mirrored screen is available inside the control van.

A variety of sampling tasks can be performed using 2 hydraulic manipulators. Depending on the scientific goal, QUEST is to be prepared with a suite of modular sample devices. The Marum standard suite includes sample boxes, a suction sampler, various hand tools, pushcores and a fluid sampling system. Also available are pressure preserving sample containers, gas samplers and other dedicated equipment.

QUEST can be prepared for special sampling tasks between 2 dives utilizing a modular container system, allowing a fast exchange on the two front drawers and the central aft toolskid bay. Experiments and special containers can be prepared prior to a dive while the system is still submerged, and easily exchanged after recovery. However, tests and preparation needs time to ensure correct operation.

In cooperation with the MPI for marine microbiology, Bremen, operations for instrument and sensor deployments were developed by utilizing a dedicated, freefall elevator system "Colossus", designed by MPI Bremen. Instruments can be detached from the lift with QUEST and placed precisely at their seafloor destination. This setup is routinely used for different types of autonomous instruments and small observatories.

After special request and preparation, instrument or heavy device recoveries can be performed using a 2nd wire deployed by the research vessel. However, such operations are not standard, and require explicit planning and confirmation, also in close cooperation with the vessel's crew. Prior to a cruise, any recovery operations have to be explicitely applied for by the science party.

During the cruise, data and imagery will be provided to the chief scientist at different levels of processing. The following table gives an overview of a standard data product aquired during a QUEST cruise. Please note, that all underwater images and videos obtained with QUEST are subject to a special copyright agreement.