Deep-ocean pressure measurements are a necessary component for ocean characterization and oceanographic monitoring. Some principle applications such as tsunami detection and ocean floor subsidence are reliant on deep-ocean pressure measurement data. The deep ocean is a challenging environment especially for pressure measurements;​ discerning pressure changes that are a small fraction of the ambient pressure calls for intelligent engineering solutions.

An ocean-deployable concept model of a pressure sensor is developed. The design is based on a diaphragm transducer intended for measuring hydrostatic pressure changes on the order of 1 centimeter of water (cmH₂O) while exposed to ambient pressures several orders of magnitude greater for up to 2500 meters of water (mH₂O). Two laboratory-scale pressure sensors are fabricated to test the fundamental principle of the proposed concept at lab-safe pressures. One is a single-sided sensor exposed to atmospheric pressure. The second sensor is a two-sided design that operates at a defined target depth pressure and measures the differential pressure across both faces of the diaphragm.

The sensor design built for atmospheric pressure testing observed a mean experimental sensitivity of 6.05 pm/cmH₂O in contrast to 6 pm/cmH₂O determined theoretically. The percent error between the experimental and theoretical values is 0.83%. The second design was tested at target depth pressures of 10, 20, 40, and 60 psi (7, 14, 28, and 42 mH₂O) and performance was within 5.8%, 2.8%, 0.7%, 4.0% respectively when considering percent error of the mean experimental and theoretical. The repeatability was sufficient for a given sample and pressure response within the range proposed in theory when a pressure preload was present to the diaphragm. Future work will aim at developing a design concept that incorporates a piston and is tested at a higher hydrostatic pressure system, and within ocean waters. A deployment plan and consideration of challenges associated with ocean testing will be accounted for.