Design of an instrument stabilising system for in-situ measurements on a research vesse

Certain atmospheric measurements are inherently difficult to obtain at sea due to the requirement of a non-moving base for accurate data capture. A stabilizing platform has been built that will maintain equipment to within 0.5 degrees of vertical in pitch and roll, up to a maximum operating range of plus-andminus 10 degrees. The platform has been tested and tuned on the CSIRO and MNF vessel RV Investigator, with the purpose of developing the technology to observe cloud and wind profiles over the Southern Ocean. The platform is retained inside a modified shipping container to protect the platform (and installed instrument) from unfavourable environmental conditions. Remaining motion is tracked by an IMU mounted on the platform, which allows post-processing to be performed, including the removal of relative vertical velocity from platform heave.