Expendable Instrumentation - Status and Trends

The first significant step in the field of expendable oceanographic instrumentation was the development of the Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT). Advances in sensor technology, telemetry and signal processing has brought about a number of expendable instruments which can provide a variety of environmental data quickly, easily, cost-effectively, and in virtually any sea conditions from surface ships, submarines, and aircraft . These advantages will become more significant in the future as ship and personnel costs continue to rise.