General overview

The RBRcervata data controller acts as a removable underwater data storage and power device to enable long-duration subsurface deployments of RBR data loggers, such as the RBRconcerto³, RBRmaestro³, RBRquartz³ BPR, and APT instruments. It supplies power to wired instruments and can archive logged data from RBR instruments over RS-232 and/or an inductive modem.

Its features include

• Backing up data for centralized retrieval by continuously downloading from instruments connected directly to it via RS-232 and/or indirectly via an RBR inductive mooring line modem (MLM) system.

• Powering directly-connected data loggers to extend their deployment lifetime.

• Reconfiguring data loggers to match a specified configuration.

• Facilitating bulk data retrieval by connecting it to a desktop computer via USB for fast data transfer.

Upon connection to the data/power port of a logger, the RBRcervata provides external power and continuously downloads from the data logger internal storage to the SDXC card internal to the data controller. Based on its own configuration, the data controller may also reconfigure the data logger as necessary. To facilitate bulk data retrieval, the data controller can be connected to a desktop computer over USB.

An instrument can be connected to or disconnected from the RBRcervata at any time. Power delivery to an attached instrument is constant, regardless of the state of the data controller, including deep sleep.

Data collection

The RBRcervata will periodically download data from the attached instrument. To avoid the instrument running out of memory, the data controller can be configured to automatically clear the instrument memory and restart the deployment to minimize downtime.

Datasets are stored on an internal SD card in an RSK format compatible with Ruskin, and may be downloaded onto a connected desktop computer when the RBRcervata is mounted as a USB storage device. Data within these RSKs is only minimally processed, and each dataset must be opened with Ruskin at least once before it can be opened with RSKtools.

Energy conservation

The RBRcervata will enter a deep sleep mode whenever it is not downloading from the connected instrument. At a configurable interval, it will wake, download any new data from the instrument, then return to sleep. The sleep duration can be configured to balance the trade-off between power consumption and the recency of data upon retrieval of the data controller.

Deployment management

The RBRcervata USB port exposes a diagnostic terminal providing the user with a set of scripts to monitor, control, and troubleshoot the data controller behaviour (e.g. starting/stopping deployment, downloading data, checking memory usage, updating the controller configuration). The RBRcervata is able to alter instrument deployment parameters according to its internal configuration (e.g., sampling rate, bursting parameters). In the event that an instrument configuration doesn't match that which the data controller expects, it will stop, reconfigure, and restart the instrument.

For complete instructions see Quick start guide.

Status LEDs

To view the status LEDs, open the RBRcervata following the instructions in Opening the RBRcervata.