Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for testing samples and, in one embodiment, a system for directing and coordinating the operations of hardware components and performance of tasks of laboratory personnel. The system includes a user interface for receiving requests from one or more users. Each request comprises a list of one or more samples to be tested and specifies one or more tests to be conducted on each sample. The system also includes a sample preparation station for maintaining a library of all received samples and creating a sublibrary of samples based on the test(s) to be conducted. The system directs hardware components and laboratory personnel (collectively, laboratory resources) to conduct the requested tests and reports test results to the user(s) who have requested the test(s).

Abstract: A roll-independent magnetometer which may be used for example in a towed array magnetometer system comprises a first magnetic field sensor having iso-angular flux sensitivity about a roll axis and a second magnetic field sensor having sensitivity along the roll axis, the arrangement being such that a component of a magnetic field along the roll axis is measured by the second unidirectional sensor and the component of the field lateral to the roll axis is measured by the first sensor. Corrections may be applied for the inclination of the sensor and the angle of dip of the Earth's field. The angle of dip may be measured either in the towing vessel, in the towed body, or provided in look-up tabulated form.