On January 18, 2020, deep-sea sediments located 4,332m below sea level in the Western Pacific Ocean were released onto deck from the grab of the deep-sea sampler, confirming the success of the sea trial of the deep-sea controllable visual sampler.

Figure 1. Photo of recovery of the sampler from deep-sea operation

Fig. 2. Geological sample captured by sampler on the seabed at 4,332 m

The deep-sea controllable visual sampler was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) for the Major Scientific Instrument Development Project in 2015, and it was completed by the end of 2019. The project was led by the Department of Automation at Tsinghua University. Major participants included the Institute of Underwater Engineering of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences of Xiamen University and other research institutions. During the first integrated geophysical voyage of the "DA YANG HAO" scientific research ship to the Western Pacific Ocean, organized by the Second Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), the deep-sea sampler completed two sea trials in depths of 2,500 m and 4,500 m, respectively. It obtained geological samples from the seabed, as well as data from near-bottom video and marine environment during both trials.

The deep-sea trial verified sampler functions including near bottom towing, autonomous navigation and online intelligent control, near bottom observation, seafloor sampling and intelligent monitoring of seafloor environment, meeting the requirements of deep-sea exploration and sampling. The overall performance achieved the expected design specifications. Compared with advanced deep-sea samplers from abroad, this sampler has the advantages of performing online intelligent target searches and intelligent control.

"DA YANG HAO" is a comprehensive scientific research ship independently developed by China, which represents the most advanced shipbuilding industry and scientific research level in China. It was officially put into service on December 29, 2019 and sailed to the Western Pacific Ocean for the first time.

Figure 3. China's "DA YANG HAO" scientific research ship that carried the sampler (maiden voyage)