Thursday, February 8, 2001
Coastal Enterprises Inc.,
Marine Trade Center, Commercial St., Portland ME

Minutes of the Meeting (Agenda)

Present: Rollie Barnaby, Ann Bucklin, Ken Ekstrom, Cliff Goudey, Cameron McLellan, Kim McLellan, Craig Pendleton, Peter Wiebe, Gary Williams

Absent: Bob Groman, David Hosom, David Mountain

Discussion of current operations of the three prototype FleetLink systems revealed the following problems and proposed the following solutions or fixes:

a) Frequent lock-ups of the FleetLink computers, where computer freezes and must be rebooted.

Discussion: Possible interaction with very demanding navigation software programs that all FleetLink vessels run on the same computer. Also, possible Athena acquisition problem, interaction with GPS feed, insufficient memory, or (perhaps most likely) a hardware interrupt conflict.

Proposed solutions: 1. Ask all vessels to provide detailed information about when the computers freeze up, what was going on when it does, and report any possible causes for the problems based on their observations. 2. Install Dr. Watson (or other Windows-based diagnostic program) to record time and cause of crashes. 3. Ask Cam to try turning off his Cap'n navigational software program, since he has other software running on other computers, and see whether this fixes the problem. All agreed that - it the problem was interaction with navigational software - it needed to be fixed, since any vessel is likely to want to combine these functions on the FleetLink computer. It seems likely that the problem isn't insufficient RAM (128K should be sufficient).

b) Vessel captains need more guidance on FleetLink system operations. Sometimes, the computer is simply turned off, because no one can figure out what to do to fix a problem.

Solution:Provide a simple step-by-step guide to remind the captain how to set-up, operate, and shut down the FleetLink system. Peter will prepare a draft step-by-step guide, and send it out to FleetLink P.I.s for comments.

c) The FleetLink computer screens cannot be dimmed for night vessel operations.

Discussion: Ken can provide a knob extender (heat-shrink tubing and a handle) for each vessel, as he has done for the Glenna & Jacob. This knob didn't seem to dim the screen enough, when we tried this on the Susan & Caitlyn.

Solution: Ken will work on this...?

Retieving Data from Vessel's Hard Drive

Next the group talked about how to retrieve data from vessel hard-drives, during the demonstration without data telemetry, which will probably continue until mid-April. The plan is to have MIT identify a source of PCMCIA card adaptors (3 each), with memory cards (6 each), which can be used for data transfer from the FleetLink computers through their PCMCIA slot. Ann will pay for them with her AmEx card. Ken will get each vessel equipped and each captain informed about data downloads. The PCMCIA cards should be mailed to Bob Groman after each trip.

Field Demonstration Plans

The further plans for field demonstration are to hopefully have the NetSensor deckmates working as soon as possible on all vessels. Gary will get the test gear to Ken. Ken will hopefully get the software fix done in time for installation and set-up on the Adventurer on Monday (2/12). An important opportunity for comprehensive field demonstration is early April, when the Susan & Caitlyn will participate in an experiment with the GoM Aquarium.

FleetLink: the Video

Jay will also try to get good video footage on the Adventurer on Monday (2/12). Rollie will try to find a video camera for Cam to take to sea on Wednesday, to get good action shots of fishing. The goal is to intersperse clips of fishing with science and talking heads. Also for the video, Rollie needs high-resolution logos from: WHOI, MIT Sea Grant, NH Sea Grant, FleetLink, NOPP, Cooperative Extension, and Clearwater.

Maine Fishermen's Forum

The cooperative research panel will be Friday (March 2nd) afternoon at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine. FleetLink will have a booth from Thursday - Saturday afternoon. Cliff will bring the FleetLink test computer, but no sensors. Rollie and Jay will try to have video clips ready to go. Peter will provide current FleetLink and Northeast Consortium posters based on the Sen. Kennedy briefing at WHOI. We will try to have a dummy or real NetSensor to show people.

Proposals for More Funding

Cliff will submit two NEC Planning Letters from MIT (Adopt-a-boat with Dr. Goodwin and Shrimping with Craig and Bob. Gary will submit an NEC Planning Letter from Clearwater. Cam and Peter will submit a concept paper to the NEFMC on closed area surveys using the BioMAPER. Ann will submit a NOPP renewal, and will send out an outline by March 1st for all P.I.s to indicate interest and needs for 1 year of continued demonstration of the three prototypes.

Prepared by Ann Bucklin
February 11, 2001
Modified: April 12, 2001