The 14/10/2020 experiment went on as planned. All 12 anchors and targets were deployed successfully. Wind and wave conditions were good, with wind speeds in the range of 2-3 m/s and low waves. The sky was partly cloudy throughout the morning. During satellite acquisition a cloud formation overshadowed the deployment site and as a result no useable satellite data were acquired. UAV multispectral, thermal and optical data were successfully acquired. In addition to the 12 targets, a large 28 m diameter circular target with a single row of HDPE mesh was deployed. Four lines of rope spanning the diameter of the ring were used in an effort to restrain the ring from taking an elliptical shape. The test deployment was performed in order to assess a series of parameters such as maneuverability inside and outside of the water, buoyancy, shape retention, robustness. Due to the flexibility of the HDPE pipe used, the ring took an elongated shape during towing in the water, which tended to transition back into a circle after the towing stopped. When the ring was not tensioned into a circular shape, the non-floating ropes sank and got entangled in rocks in the shallows, hampering movement of the target. In an actual deployment the HDPE mesh would cover the entirety of the target surface, and in addition to the ropes, would aid to avoid the elongation of the ring. However, the anchoring that will be used for deployment will have to guaranty that the ring is restricted from large deformations. In terms of durability, in spite of the large deformations and forces during maneuvering and towing, the compression fittings held with no issues. A team of at least 10 to 12 people is considered necessary in order to effectively maneuver the ring on land.
