Chapter 143: Installation

Short waves weakened easily in water. To send signals from the seabed, they had to use very low frequency or extremely low frequency communication. This was the direction for modifying the seismograph signals.

The problem of underwater pressure required structural changes to the seismograph to handle the powerful pressure at the seabed. Otherwise, whether the device could work properly under such intense pressure was a big question.

Ink Girl helped optimize the seismograph’s structure. Chen Mo also entered the Science and Technology Library and got a set of extremely low frequency communication technology. Extremely low frequency communication was one-way; it could only send signals, not receive them. It was usually used for submarine communication.

But with their current conditions, being able to send signals from hundreds or even thousands of meters underwater was already remarkable. This also required installing a buoy-type antenna outside the seismograph.

With help from the Artificial Intelligence and the Science and Technology Library, plus full support from Legion Ant Company, the work to modify the seismograph went very smoothly.

Now that the seismograph design was ready, Chen Mo poured all his energy into making the seismographs. He wanted to finish making all the needed seismographs before the Academy of Sciences’ ocean expedition began.

The land research team worked with Binhai University. Professors and students went together to the Tibet Region. Everything was moving ahead quickly.

The controversy over the paper had passed. With no big news for a long time, no one paid attention to Legion Ant Company anymore. The media’s focus had shifted elsewhere. Plus, Legion Ant Company kept its actions secret, so outsiders had no idea about any big moves the company was making.

At Binhai Port, Chen Mo finally let out a sigh of relief after the last huge crate was loaded onto the ship. For two months, he had been preparing for this day nonstop. Now it had finally arrived.

“This USB drive has a tutorial video for installing the seismograph. It’s very simple. Please personally give it to Mr. Wu Zhen,” Chen Mo said, handing a USB drive to Li Chengzhi.

Li Chengzhi took the USB drive and put it away safely. He looked at Chen Mo deeply. The application for Chen Mo’s project had been surprisingly smooth this time. Maybe those above wanted to see if Chen Mo could really perform a miracle.

He wasn’t worried about other countries taking the instruments. He had asked Chen Mo about this, and Chen Mo told him he was prepared.

Once activated, if anyone tried to retrieve it without stopping it with the command, it would self-destruct.

If such a large device was placed down there and sent signals, other countries would notice the signals and try to recover it once they detected them.

It contained many technologies that others would want.

To prevent technology leaks, if someone tried to recover it without deactivating it first, the seismograph would open up underwater and use the strong water pressure to destroy itself.

Chen Mo had already changed the seismograph into a semi-smart machine. If he had more time, he wouldn’t mind turning it into a moving robot. Then, recovering it would be much harder.

After saying goodbye to Chen Mo, Li Chengzhi boarded the ship and left, taking the equipment to the research team’s vessel.

“Is the instrument really okay?” Xiaoyu asked Chen Mo on their way back.

“Don’t worry. Even if they just drop it into the sea, it will start up by itself after sinking to the seabed. The only issue might be its position. Mr. Wu is an expert in earthquakes; he knows the best spots to install it. That’s even better, so there shouldn’t be big problems,” Chen Mo said confidently.

“That’s good. Now this matter is settled for now,” Xiaoyu said. “You’ve been busy for two months. Rest for a couple of days.”

“The seismographs sent to the Tibet Region should have arrived too. They should know how to install them. Our work is done for now, and we’ll move to the next stage. I’ll spend these two days with you, relaxing. We can go anywhere you want.”

“I want to watch a movie,” Xiaoyu said with a laugh. “You haven’t watched a movie with me in so long.”

“Is that all you want?” Chen Mo was amused by her. Only around him did Xiaoyu show her more feminine side.

“That’s all I want,” Xiaoyu stated matter-of-factly.

Tibet Region.

Zhang Songlin touched the two-meter-tall cylindrical instrument with wonder.

He was a professor at Binhai University’s School of Geographic Sciences and studied geology. This cooperation between Legion Ant Company and Binhai University coincided with his own geological survey in the Tibet Region, so he was sent here.

This survey project was also sponsored by Legion Ant Company.

Their mission was to install ten seismographs at ten different sites. Legion Ant Company had already discussed and settled the formalities with the local government in the Tibet Region. There were no problems.

As a geology professor, he knew this area’s geology well. It was above a fault line.

The sudden movement of crustal blocks along a fault was the main cause of earthquakes. Especially near plate boundaries, the crust was very active. This area was one of the most earthquake-prone places in the country.

Scientists had always studied these fault lines. If they could understand the fault mechanisms deeply, they could predict earthquakes accurately. Right now, Legion Ant Company was doing exactly that.

He remembered when Chen Mo first published that paper; he hadn’t believed it. Now, he was here helping Legion Ant Company.

“Professor Zhang, the drilling is done,” a worker wearing a hard hat said, interrupting his thoughts.

Zhang Songlin snapped back to attention and patted the seismograph beside him. “Move the instrument over the drill hole and get ready to install it.”

This was a confidential project. He dared not say these were Legion Ant Company’s seismographs. Only those who needed to know were informed.

As soon as Zhang Songlin finished speaking, several workers lifted the seismograph and carried it toward the hole.

“Rotate it clockwise one step to align the three holes below,” a worker watching the position said.

It took two minutes to align the holes properly.

After connecting the circuits, Zhang Songlin opened a panel on the instrument. Following the tutorial he had seen, he pressed the start button.

Whirr!

The sound of machinery starting up was heard. Three sealed holes at the bottom of the seismograph opened, and three probes slowly extended down into the drill hole underground.

As soon as the probes stopped, Zhang Songlin opened the top of the instrument. A geomagnetic field detector made of coils rose and was exposed to the air. The seismograph’s appearance wasn’t impressive, but Zhang Songlin still followed the steps to calibrate it.

After calibration, Zhang Songlin took out his computer and began receiving data from the seismograph.

At another location, Luo Changhua was doing the same installation work. They had to install ten machines. They split into two teams to work more efficiently.

The installation of seismographs in the Tibet Region was progressing steadily.

At sea.

After six large crates were loaded onto the research vessel, a group of experts immediately gathered around them. Wu Zhen was leading them.

Many faces showed curiosity. They wondered what these items were that had been rushed to them.

Their expedition included marine biology, marine chemistry, marine physics, and marine geology projects. The first destination was the Mariana Trench.

Later, submersibles would dive to collect samples. Legion Ant Company’s devices would also be placed at suitable spots on the seabed. Chen Mo had suggested general locations, but the exact spots would be decided by Wu Zhen, the geology expert.

“Open all the crates,” Wu Zhen, the leader, said.

As soon as he spoke, several staff stepped forward and unlocked the crates. The specially modified seabed seismographs were revealed to everyone.