A seismic sensor station employs a sensor unit that is mounted on a central mounting post attached to the base of a sensor station housing. The only path of mechanically supporting contact that exists between the sensor unit and the base is through the central mounting post.

Embodiments herein describe a reconfigurable UAV to allow for the deployment of a subsurface sensor. The UAV includes a rotor assembly that is slidably coupled to a landing base. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotors and a ring circumscribing the rotors. Upon landing, the rotor assembly rotates in a first direction with respect to the landing base, which reduces a spacing between the rotor assembly and the ground and drives a sensor coupled to the rotor assembly into the ground. To remove the sensor from the ground, the rotor assembly rotates in a second direction to increase the spacing between the rotor assembly and the ground. The ring and/or the landing base may include interlocking features such as helical threads that are utilized to translate a rotational motion of the rotor assembly into a linear translation of the rotor assembly along the length of the landing base.

The method comprises flying at least a probe carrier flying vehicle above a dropping area on the ground, the probe carrier flying vehicle carrying probes and a launcher, configured to separate each probe from the probe carrier flying vehicle; activating the launcher to separate at least one of the probes from the probe carrier flying vehicle above the dropping area; falling of the probe from the flying vehicle in the ground of the dropping area; at least partial insertion of the probe in the ground of the dropping area. When the probe carrier flying vehicle is located above a target dropping area, before activating the launcher, the method comprises determining a vegetation information at the target dropping area using a flying vegetation detector.

A method for deployment of a geophysical sensor includes moving a ram having a ground penetrating bit at a movable end thereof to a selected geodetic position. The ram and the ground penetrating bit are extended to create a hole in a ground surface while measuring extension of the ram. The ram is retracted, and if the measured extension of the ram indicates successful creation of the hole, then the geophysical sensor is moved to a position beneath the ram and the ram is extended to urge the geophysical sensor into the hole.

Methods and a device for detecting physical intrusion are providing, the device including a vibration sensor, a processor, a transmitter, a battery, and a conductive wire connecting the vibration sensor and the processor. The vibration sensor is affixed to a first part of the device, and the processor, transmitter, and battery are affixed to a second part of the device. The first and second parts, when attached together, form a case containing the conductive wire. The device performs steps of: sampling a set of seismic signals from the vibration sensor, determining that the set of seismic signals matches a seismic threat pattern, and responsively issuing an intrusion alert.

A geophysical sensor deployment apparatus designed to provide improved coupling between the sensor and the ground, includes a ram extendible through a ram guide. The guide has an opening for insertion of a geophysical sensor. The ram has a ground displacing bit at a movable end thereof. The ram and the guide are mounted to a frame. The mounting has a pivot and a plurality of angularly separated extension mechanisms disposed between the ram and guide and the frame whereby an elevation and an orientation of the ram and the guide are controllable by selective extension of each of the plurality of extension mechanisms.

A downhole local solid particles counting probe (1) for counting solid particles (101) in a fluid (100) present in a hydrocarbon well in production comprising: an elongated and flexible protective tube (2) defining an internal cavity (5) terminating by a membrane wall (3) defining a tip (4), the protective tube (2) and the membrane wall (3) isolating the internal cavity (5) from the fluid (100) of the hydrocarbon well, the protective tube (2) and membrane wall (3) are made of metal or metal alloy and have a thickness (ei) such as to resist to the downhole hydrocarbon well pressure; a passive acoustic sensor (6) mounted inside the internal cavity (5), the passive acoustic sensor (6) having a front side (7) mechanically coupled on the membrane wall (3) of the tip (4); a characteristic dimension of the passive acoustic sensor (6) is similar to solid particles (101) average characteristic dimension, ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, and a characteristic dimension of the membrane wall (3) defining the tip (4) ranges from 1 mm to 2 mm; and the passive acoustic sensor (6) is arranged to detect acoustic waves (30) generated by solid particles (101) impacting the membrane wall (3) defining the tip (4) so as to resolve an individual impact from a single solid particle and to produce a signal representative of a count of solid particles.

A method of forming an electronic device includes forming a plurality of closed loops over a semiconductor substrate. Each closed loop has a first and a second polysilicon gate structure joined at first and second ends. Each closed loop includes an inner portion and an end portion. In the inner portion the first polysilicon gate structure runs about parallel to the second polysilicon gate structure. In the outer portion the first polysilicon gate structure converges with the second polysilicon gate structure. The method further includes forming a plurality of trench contacts. Each of the trench contacts is located between a respective pair of closed loops, passes through an epitaxial layer and contacts the substrate. The length of the trench contacts is no greater than the length of the inner portions.

Methods and a device for detecting physical intrusion are providing, the device including a vibration sensor, a processor, a transmitter, a battery, and a conductive wire connecting the vibration sensor and the processor. The vibration sensor is affixed to a first part of the device, and the processor, transmitter, and battery are affixed to a second part of the device. The first and second parts, when attached together, form a case containing the conductive wire. The device performs steps of: sampling a set of seismic signals from the vibration sensor, determining that the set of seismic signals matches a seismic threat pattern, and responsively issuing an intrusion alert.

A method for distributing geophones around a seismic data source includes distributing a first geophones each including a first piezoelectric system in a first region in which the seismic data source is located then distributing second geophones each including a solar cell in a second region surrounding the first region. The second geophones further include a housing, a spike provided on a bottom surface of the housing, a sensor configured to sense seismic data; a processor configured to process the seismic data, a transceiver configured to transmit the processed seismic data and receive radio frequency (RF) signals wirelessly; and a power device. The power device is coupled to the sensor, the processor and the transceiver. The power device is configured to harvest energy from an environment where the geophone is located. The power device includes a solar cell provided on a top surface of the housing, a piezoelectric system provided on an edge of the housing adjacent to the top surface, and a thermoelectric generator provided on a bottom surface of the housing and a surface of the spike.