36 JULY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Mystery Solved in Flagler Beach Adapted from Information by Ardaman & Associates Last month, the community of Flagler Beach in Flagler County, Florida, was abuzz with speculation about a strange craft seen just off the coast. The truth was finally revealed: it was Ardaman & Associates! They were aboard one of Ardaman’s “mudbugs,” utilizing a lift boat they hired for geotechnical research in the region. No extraterrestrials or treasure seekers - just a team gathering subsurface data for an underwater cable initiative with a touch of offshore innovation. GEOTECH Automation, in Part by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC When it comes to computer controls, the assumption is one must “computerize” everything. Of course, it’s the “in” thing right now - let the computer do all the work. While it’s possible to computerize the whole thing, it may not be the most advantageous strategy - and the human element must be considered. Often, computerizing parts of the whole instead of the whole can be very beneficial, as well as inexpensive. One high-tech place I worked for had a fleet of golf carts the employees could use to get around the company grounds, as it was a large facility. There were several plug-ins located by the golf cart parking area where the operators could charge the carts when not in use. The arrangement worked fine and most people would plug in the golf cart when they were done using it. The problem was when somebody hopped into the golf cart and drove away with the charging cord still attached. Often, the big yank would damage both the golf cart and the receptacle, requiring several hours of repair time, which happened quite often. One high-tech solution would be to sense when someone was getting into the cart driver’s seat and have a computergenerated Alexa-like voice remind the driver to disconnect the charging cord before moving the cart. The cart driver may or may not disconnect the power cord. Everyone knows just because Alexa tells you to do something doesn’t mean it’s going to get done. Let’s see how this high-tech scenario fleshes out in practical terms. To automate something like that, one would need to have a sensor to sense somebody sitting in the driver’s seat. It would require a heat- and motion-activated occupancy sensor. So this would not be fooled by people walking around the golf cart and not actually getting into the cart, we would need a seat switch activated by the driver’s weight to confirm there was someone sitting in the golf cart driver’s seat. Once the computer senses a driver is seated in the golf cart, it would trigger the voice command from Alexa. Then it remains to be seen whether the driver would obey this command. It would be nice to have an onboard robot jump out and physically disconnect the power cord, but we don’t have this level of technology - yet. The point I’m making here is some types of automation can quickly get out of hand when it comes to practical applications. While physically connecting and disconnecting a power cord may be a simple thing for a human to do, it isn’t very simple for a computer/robot to do. So what’s an automation specialist to do? One can provide a very effective and cost-effective solution by doing automation, in part. One can use a small, inexpensive (under $15) 120-volt AC coil single pole double throw mechanical relay to do the job. Simply “tee” off the two 120-volt wires that supply the golf cart battery charger and connect them to the coil of the relay. Wire the cart “on” switch to the normally closed set of relay contacts. When the golf cart is plugged in, the contacts will open and prevent the cart from going anywhere. If/when this happens, hopefully the cart driver will get out of the cart to investigate why the cart isn’t working and discover the cart is plugged in. Unplugging the cart will allow the cart to operate normally. One could even wire in an LED light on the dash with a small sign explaining when the light is on, the golf cart is plugged in, and will operate normally when it is unplugged. This is a simple, elegant, durable, and inexpensive solution. Sure, it lacks the high-tech aura of the complex computer systems, but who cares? It works and it works well. Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com In observance of Independence Day, the WWDR office will be closed Friday, July 4th; e-mail will be monitored. We wish you all a blessed and safe holiday.
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