MetOcean Telematics STOKES Drifter

The Stokes Drifter is a compact drifting buoy that provides real-time surface current data. The small light-weight buoy is equipped with GPS positioning, a sea surface temperature sensor and Iridium satellite telemetry, which enables the buoy to transmit vital sensor and geo-positional location data in real-time. The buoy is geo-alarm capable and has bidirectional capabilities, allowing the end-user to communicate with the drifter if it enters an area of particular interest.

The applications for the drifter are endless due to its compact size, however, the buoy is ideal for purposes ranging from mapping large-scale ocean currents, spill monitoring, environmental monitoring, and aiding in search and rescue operations.

Oil Spill Response and Recovery

The Stokes Drifter is easy to use and deploy, making it ideal for oil spill response and recovery. By placing the activation magnet on the surface of the device, the buoy is activated and ready to be dropped into the water from a maximum height of 10 meters. Through surface current tracking, the buoy is able to model the direction of oil spills and use Iridium satellite telemetry to provide accurate, real-time data.

Iridium also allows the drifter to have bi-directional capabilities. This is a critical ability as the end-user can communicate with the unit by sending it a command to change reporting intervals or request essential time-sensitive data when it enters a region of interest.

Surface Asset Tracking

The Stokes Drifter can act as a positional marker for assets by providing real-time location data through Iridium satellite telemetry. The drifter’s GPS positioning feature means its location can be tracked anywhere in the world using MetOcean’s secure data management platform, LiNC.

Search and Rescue

The buoy can also be utilized as a positional marker for SAR efforts, as its easy operation and deployment makes it suited for the time-sensitive nature of SAR operations. The drifter can be used in tandem with MetOcean’s Iridium SLDMB (iSLDMB),a Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy designed to meet the requirements of coastguards for SAR operations in the open ocean.

Key Features

• User-serviceable
• Low profile surface tracker
• Real-time and bi-directional data via Iridium satellite

The Stokes Drifter uses Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) mode for transmitting data. The configuration of the Stokes Drifter may be changed using Over-The-Air (OTA) commands. These commands may be issued by MetOcean LiNC web-based platform or customized solutions could be developed.