Open-Water Testing Support

NLR's open-water testing provides the expertise and equipment needed for technology developers, test centers, and the research community to safely collect high-quality data in the field.

Capabilities

Capabilities include site resource assessment, site assessment, mechanical and electrical measurements, and testing to International Electrotechnical Commission 62600 technical specifications.

Field Support

NLR's engineers and technicians are available to support all field research and development activities, including:

• Test design and planning, including mechanical and electrical design, structural design, mooring design, logistics planning, and technical reviews
• Test site characterization
• Sensor, instrument, and data acquisition system selection, design, calibration, installation, and operation
• Electrical systems integration and testing
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Field data analysis
• Field data visualization and monitoring
• Testing to International Electrotechnical Commission technical specifications under the International Organization for Standardization 17025 standard.

Sensors and Instrumentation

NLR has a large inventory of electrical and mechanical sensors and instrumentation and support equipment for laboratory and field testing. NLR actively maintains and calibrates all sensors and instruments to ensure they are mission ready. Our staff also has extensive expertise in sensor and instrumentation selection, installation, and operation to achieve technology deployment objectives.

Resource Measurement

• Acoustic Doppler profilers for current and wave measurement
• Acoustic Doppler velocimeters for high-resolution current measurement
• Wave rider buoys for wave measurement

Mechanical Measurement

• GPS systems for navigation and motion measurement
• Inertial measurement units and inertial navigation systems for motion measurement in six degrees of freedom (several are survey grade)
• Accelerometers for vibration measurement
• Acoustic and cup anemometers to measure wind speed and direction
• Meteorological stations for a broad range of meteorological and atmospheric measurements
• Expertise in strain and load measurements
• Drivetrain measurements (such as encoders)
• Pressure and flow measurements

Electrical Measurement

• Power transducers and power-quality meters for power measurement and characterization
• Potential and current transducers for voltage and current measurement

Support Equipment

• Sea floor landers (mounts)
• Acoustic releases and deck boxes
• Optical fiber termination and testing equipment

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