Project news
The sea trials, carried out last June, proved conclusive. The release of the TiPOD into the sea has just been carried out on January 25, 2026
TiPOD is an educational program designed specifically for/by vocational high school students and students in BTS (advanced technician’s certificate), in direct connection with the scientific mission of the Polar POD.
An autonomous drifting buoy deployed in the Southern Ocean to complete and refine the data collected by the main station. This “mini Polar POD”, called TiPOD, is the result of collaborative work involving several technical sectors.
The project mobilised the skills of several BTS specialities:
– BTS SNEC (Digital Systems, Electronics, and Communications): design of the embedded electronic board, sensor programming, and data transmission.
– BTS CPI (Industrial Product Design): design of the mechanical structure, calculations for resistance and stability at sea.
– BTS SNIR (Digital Systems, IT, and Networks): development of the application for data retrieval and dissemination to the scientific community.
All of this know-how, pooled under the supervision of experts, has enabled the launch of the TiPOD in the Southern Ocean since the beginning of 2026.
An educational and scientific tool!
The TiPOD buoy takes physical data readings: wave height, heave, wind direction and strength. All this information is transmitted by satellite and enriches the observation needs of scientists.
