This week was an interesting one. Unfortunately, I spent a few days sick in bed and had to miss work. To be on the safe side, I was tested for COVID and after receiving my negative results I was able to return to work. While I was home and waiting for the results, I was able to complete a home project given to me by the mechanical engineer lead. The team ordered a 3D printer, and I was asked to assemble it. This was my first time building anything like this, so it took me a bit of time. It was put to use once I brought it back to the shop and so far, it seems to be working well, though the lead did have to fix one mistake to get it running smooth
Throughout the sub there are multiple boxes that are sealed from the sea water and filled with oil to protect the equipment inside. Some of them are the j-boxes for all circuits on board the sub, some house electronic controls, and one is used for the mercury trim system pump. In each box is a diode that is used as a leak detector for ocean water leaking in. My job for the day was to relocate a leak detector on one of the boxes housing some electronic controls. This included removing the cover, installing a new mounting bracket, and mounting the diode in its new location. While performing this task, I found damages and looseness to some wires in the connectors. Having just performed similar repair work in the motor pods last week, I was able to complete these wire repairs on my own in addition to completing my assigned task.
The sub is still undergoing some electrical testing and my next task involved just that. Like the varying sealed boxes on the sub, all the power bottles, data bottles, and motor pods have a diode installed as a leak detector for ocean water leaking in. I was asked to test the leak detectors in the motor pods and had to assemble my own harness to perform the leak detects. This required me to determine the correct wire size, connector type, and pin location at each leak detecting circuit within the pods. Once assembled, I was able to perform the test. All detector circuits passed the test which verified continuity and operation of the LED.
Being land-based, I have the opportunity to network with some of the other teams working on projects here at WHOI. This week I was introduced to one of the leaders on the Sentry team. Sentry returned from sea recently and was undergoing some maintenance. The lead took me around the shop and let me ask questions and explore a bit of the torn apart equipment. In the same lab was another vehicle called NUI. This vehicle is remotely operated while still tethered to a ship for communication and video streaming and is designed to explore under the ice. This vehicle really grabbed my attention as I love learning about the seas surrounding the Arctic and Antarctic regions. If I chose to pursue a career within WHOI, I would absolutely try to join the NUI team for at least one excursion if the opportunity ever arose.
Though I lost out on some time with the group this week, I still feel like I was able to accomplish some small goals and have continued to grow and learn. As each week passes, I feel more confident and motivated. With less than a month until Alvin returns to sea, the next few weeks are going to be jam packed with tasks to complete and I am ready for the challenge.