Applied Acoustics launches Pyxis Integrated Inertial USBL System - The new normal in subsea positioning
Applied Acoustic Engineering (AAE) has announced the launch of their next generation USBL system, Pyxis USBL. Taking its name from the constellation Pyxis Nautica - the mariner’s compass - Pyxis USBL takes the best of AAE’s subsea acoustic tracking technology with a highly advanced inertial navigation system (INS) from one of the most respected names in the industry, to create a state of the art, inertially aided Ultra Short Baseline system capable of accurate subsea tracking with survey grade performance.
The combination of AAE’s Sigma 2 acoustic protocols and SBG Systems high precision Navsight Apogee Marine INS brings together two leading names in the field of marine technology, resulting in AAE’s most accurate and long range positioning system to date, and in the process providing many time, cost and performance benefits to global survey operators.
As a tightly coupled, factory fitted package, Pyxis USBL is a portable, calibration free system able to immediately operate from any vessel as soon as the work site has been reached. The MEMS based INS does not fall under ITAR regulations, and the range restricted option means the whole system can be shipped unhindered and without export control to almost anywhere in the world. A feature of the Pyxis system is the ability for the operator to deactivate the range restriction in the field under an export-controlled regime.
A spokesperson for SBG Systems commented “AAE and SBG Systems have collaborated for several years on different projects and have established an excellent relationship. We are thrilled that Applied Acoustics has selected our Navsight Apogee OEM high performance system to be integrated into the first-ever USBL to embed a MEMS INS”.
Available with short range omni-directional or long range directional transceiver options, the versatility of Pyxis USBL makes it ideal for very shallow operations such as diver monitoring, for deeper applications where ROV’s and AUV’s might be deployed, and for tracking short or long range towed sensors such as magnetometers and side scan sonars.
Applied Acoustic Engineering is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly regarded subsea electronic-acoustic products, and a founding member of the AAE Technologies group of companies. Founded in 1989, the company has an established international client base covering many industry sectors, backed up by overseas offices and service centres and supported by a dedicated global distributor network.
To watch the launch animation visit their YouTube channel.
Teledyne CARIS AI software onboard successful UTAS USV mission
Teledyne CARIS, a Teledyne Technologies [NYSE:TDY] company, was an integral part of the illustrious team involved in the ground-breaking uncrewed offshore survey mission in the Atlantic Ocean. Teledyne CARIS’ Mira AI and CARIS Onboard software were present on the vessel to enable autonomous survey and real-time processing operations. The mission’s Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) built by SEA-KIT mapped over 1000 sq kms of the ocean floor in 22 days, while being continuously monitored via satellite communications at its Remote Operations Center in Essex, United Kingdom. A specialized team comprised of the GEBCO-Nippon Foundation Alumni Team operated the survey equipment and provided quality control of the data from various ‘work-from-home locations’ around the world.
The SEA-KIT USV surveyed a predominately unsurveyed area at the southwestern edge of the UK Continental shelf. The image displays the initial results following a fully automated processing workflow. Final processing is currently being completed using CARIS HIPS software to produce the final deliverable for the survey.
The success of the Teledyne CARIS tools in the UTAS project demonstrates its software capabilities to support uncrewed surveys in the future and the crucial role it will play in The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 project. Seabed 2030 is an ambitious effort between GEBCO and The Nippon Foundation to complete the global mapping of the ocean floors in the next 10 years.
“Teledyne CARIS is uniquely positioned to underpin Seabed 2030 goals through its AI capabilities, web services and automated data processing workflows,” said Andy Hoggarth, VP, Sales and Marketing at Teledyne CARIS.
“The success of this first leg is a tribute to the strong leadership of SEA-KIT and the unique capabilities and insights of all of the member organizations–̶ we are delighted to play a part in this mission.”
Teledyne CARIS is part of the Teledyne Imaging group. For 40 years, Teledyne CARIS has been the leading developer of marine mapping software. We offer a highly effective solution for near real-time processing, robust quality control of sonar data, and the creation and distribution of maps, charts, and digital datasets.
Teledyne Imaging is a group of leading-edge companies aligned under the Teledyne umbrella. Teledyne Imaging forms an unrivalled collective of expertise across the spectrum with decades of experience. Individually, each company offers best-in-class solutions. Together, they combine and leverage each other’s strengths to provide the deepest, widest imaging and related technology portfolio in the world. From aerospace through industrial inspection, scientific research, spectroscopy, radiography and radiotherapy, geospatial surveying, and advanced MEMS and semiconductor solutions, Teledyne Imaging offers worldwide customer support and the technical expertise to handle the toughest tasks. Their tools, technologies, and vision solutions are built to deliver to their customers a unique and competitive advantage.
For more information, contact
Jennifer Parham, Marketing Manager, Geospatial
Teledyne CARIS
+1 905 660 0808
[email protected]
Hexagon | VERIPOS launches SPAN GNSS+INS technology for hydrographic survey applications
Hexagon | VERIPOS introduce SPAN GNSS+INS technology from NovAtel, also part of Hexagon, into the offshore oil and gas marine market. NovAtel and its SPAN technology have accelerated development in GNSS positioning, sensor fusion and inertial navigation systems for over 15 years. Now, VERIPOS brings this proven technology to the marine market to optimize your positioning solution with GNSS and inertial measurement units (IMUs) to provide heading, attitude and heave measurements on the open water. Through deep coupling, SPAN technology fuses measurements from the GNSS receiver and the IMU together to calculate a robust and reliable position, heading, velocity, attitude and heave. This process delivers a holistic and precise 3D solution, powering hydrographic survey applications through extended GNSS outages.
The solution is scalable with multiple different IMUs, the VERIPOS LD900 receiver, and Quantum visualization software. “The LD900 with dual-antenna functionality is able to unlock the SPAN GNSS+INS integration technology that has a long and successful track record,” explained Hexagon | VERIPOS Marine Segment Portfolio Manager Dr. David Russell.
“The latest evolution of SPAN technology for marine has improved performance through deep coupling to provide exceptional positioning, velocity, attitude and heave measurements in highly demanding offshore hydrographic survey applications. The simple upgrade path to INS capability with the LD900 makes it a great choice for users in the market.”
To learn more about SPAN technology for offshore hydrographic survey applications, visit veripos.com
Sonardyne’s Solstice MCM sonar now MINTACS compatible for Royal Australian Navy
Marine technology company Sonardyne has announced that its Solstice multi-aperture sonar has been integrated into mine warfare command software used by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Through a collaboration with Australian defence software engineering company Solutions from Silicon (SfS), data collected by Solstice during mine counter measure (MCM) missions can now be imported, processed and displayed in the most recent release of the MINTACs (Mine Warfare Tactical Command Software) which is in service with the RAN.
Sonardyne’s Solstice is widely considered as a force multiplier for MCM operations, enabling substantially higher area coverage rates (ACR) using low-cost, low-logistics autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). It provides 200 m wide swath with an unrivalled 0.15° along-track resolution and consumes just 18 Watts, maximising vehicle endurance.
MINTACS provides the operator with the ability to not only read and display the Solstice data but also mark mine-like objects (MLOs) of interest and process the images with its powerful onboard automatic target recognition (ATR) capability. MINTACS is in service with host of countries around the world including the national navies of the UK, Australia, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand and Sweden.
For more information visit www.sonardyne.com
Teledyne RD Instruments launches new Wayfinder DVL for micro vehicles
Teledyne RD Instruments announced the launch of its new Wayfinder Doppler Velocity Log (DVL). The Wayfinder has been designed to provide Doppler navigation capability for micro vehicles, which are often constrained by stringent size, weight and budget limitations. Measuring just 10 x 10 x 7 cm and weighing in at .51 kg, Teledyne RDI’s new Wayfinder is ideally suited to address the needs of our industry’s proliferation of increasingly smaller subsea vehicles.
Stephen Apsey, General Manager at Teledyne RDI explains, “Teledyne RDI has been the leader in Doppler navigation for over 25 years, providing the highest quality, most precise and reliable DVLs available to the industry’s preeminent vehicle manufacturers. We’re now bringing this technology to the next generation of micro ROVs and AUVs by drastically reducing the size and weight to deliver Teledyne quality at a price point that will meet their unique needs.”
From the outset, the Wayfinder DVL has been designed with micro vehicle manufacturers, universities, and hobbyists in mind, delivering a 200 m depth rating, ease of integration and operation, as well as self-serve online support documentation and online purchasing. The Wayfinder rounds out Teledyne’s full family of DVL products servicing the defense, commercial and academic markets.
For more information on the new Wayfinder DVL, visit: www.teledynemarine.com/wayfinder
NOC leads marine community towards zero-carbon future
An ambitious scoping project, led by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), has launched to investigate how to move towards low or zero-carbon oceanographic research. The aim of the NZOC (Net Zero Oceanographic Capability) project (NE/V013068/1) is to bring together the marine science community and key stakeholders to consider how NERC can maintain and enhance its research infrastructure in the future whilst adhering to the UKRI’s objective of becoming a ‘net-zero’ organisation by 2040.
Leigh Storey, NOC Associate Director National Marine Facilities and NZOC Principal Investigator commented, “The replacement of a modern research ship is normally a decade-long process. However, the advances in technology are opening up opportunities which require a genuinely strategic view to be taken regards the UK’s next generation of oceanographic research infrastructure. The 20th century paradigm must give way to a low-carbon system and that shift must consider the science and policy needs alongside the technological opportunities.”
NZOC will run for approximately one year and include six work packages, investigating:
- Future science need (led by Dr Kate Hendry, University of Bristol),
- Policy & regulation (led by Professor Steve Fletcher, University of Portsmouth),
- Future ship technology (led by Colin Day, NOC),
- Marine Autonomous Systems (led by Dr Maaten Furlong, NOC),
- Future sensor systems & networks (led by Professor Matt Mowlem, NOC), and
- Data ecosystems (led by Dr John Siddorn, Met Office).
- Dr. Peter Collinson (independent) will work with the leadership team to provide an industry perspective.
The project leadership seeks participation from the global academic and maritime community to ensure our collective impact on the ocean and wider environment is a positive one, thus supporting a sustainable ocean for all.
The initial focus of the project will be on engaging as widely as possible through surveys and virtual workshops. More information about the project aims, deliverables, workshops, as well as how to get involved, can be found on the project site here.
The work streams will inform a detailed report to NERC/UKRI as well as a public-facing report to be presented at an event at the end of the project.
The project will undertake equality impact assessments to ensure we have understood the impact of the proposed solutions and can make recommendations to NERC on how to increase access and inclusivity. Ways of working will be utilised which remove the requirement for travel.
The NOC is uniquely placed to lead this collaboration as core National Capability long-term science is the foundation of our research base and our mission is a sustainable ocean for all. To enable this we operate and manage, on behalf of NERC/UKRI, large-scale facilities and capabilities for use by the UK's marine science community and international partners. This includes the Royal Research Ships RRS James Cook and RRS Discovery, the National Marine Equipment Pool, the infrastructure (including workshops, laboratories, testing facilities and warehouses) and the mariners, technicians, engineers, project managers, logisticians and operation's managers that deliver the NERC/UKRI Marine Facilities Programme.
For more information visit www.noc.ac.uk
Remote Hydrography – Virtual Prelude, 23rd September, 15:00 (BST)
The Hydrographic Society UK (THS UK) is presenting a webcast prelude to their Remote Hydrography Conference which takes place in 2021. The prelude event consists of a selection of short presentations given by selected speakers from their main conference programme, to give the audience a quick update on a range of Remote Hydrography subjects.
Presenters include:
-
-
- Rear Admiral Peter Sparkes, Acting Chief Executive and National Hydrographer, UKHO
- Brian R Calder, Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping & NOAA-UNH Joint Hydrographic Center, University of New Hampshire, USA
- Paul Bell, National Oceanography Centre
- ...and many more!
-
To register to join this virtual event please visit noc-events.co.uk
JOB POST - Hydrographic Surveyors | A-2-Sea
Following a period of successful growth, A-2-Sea are looking to recruit Hydrographic Surveyors with a minimum 3 years’ experience to join their continuously expanding survey department.
A-2-Sea place a great emphasis on the individual, when assessing suitability for a role. Surveying in the coastal zone is rewarding, but challenging, and in our experience suits people who are hardworking, dynamic, and driven in achieving the objectives of a given project.
Job description:
The position offers a variety of responsibilities that would require the successful candidate to work both offshore away from home and onshore at A-2-Sea’s offices based in Romsey, to deliver all aspects of a project. The key roles of the position include:
- Planning and preparation of A-2-Sea survey projects.
- Continuous investigation of new technologies to utilise in future projects.
- Mobilisation and calibration of survey equipment to A-2-Sea’s survey vessels as well as vessel of opportunity.
- Acquisition of hydrographic and geophysical data using a variety of survey equipment.
- Data QC.
- Data processing and production of deliverables.
- Report writing and interpretation of results.
- Development of A-2-Sea’s processes and procedures.
Essential experience:
- Experience of a variety of survey equipment including Kongsberg, R2Sonic and Reason multibeam systems, Applanix positioning systems and Sonardyne USBL systems.
- A strong knowledge of using industry software including QPS QINSy and Caris HIPS & SIPS.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in hydrographic survey.
- A higher education degree in hydrographic surveying (ideally IHO Cat-A accredited) or related science-based subject.
- Willing to work away from home for periods up to 4 weeks (periods away from home can vary from a few days to a few weeks).
- A proactive approach to achieving tasks.
- Good interpersonal and written communication skills.
- A keen interest in working the coastal zone.
- Experience of working within a team but with the ability to work independently.
- Ability to understand how their actions impact their surrounding environment and the wider project.
- Possession of a full, valid UK driving licence.
Desirable experience:
- Experience of working on nautical charting, cable route and offshore renewable energy projects in shallow water environments.
- Ability to lead vessel mobilisations.
- User of software including Kongsberg SIS, QPS Qimera, BeamWorx AutoClean, QPS Fledermaus.
- Experience of operating Side Scan Sonar systems with data acquisition and QC.
- Knowledge of GIS software.
- Holds valid offshore medical and sea survival certification.
This is an exciting opportunity for experienced Hydrographic Surveyors to join and develop a growing and successful survey department. To apply for this position please send your CV and covering letter to Nicola Tucker: [email protected]
JOB POST - Survey Data Processor | A-2-Sea
Following a period of successful growth, A-2-Sea are looking to recruit Hydrographic Surveyors with a minimum 3 years’ experience to join their continuously expanding survey department.
A-2-Sea place a great emphasis on the individual, when assessing suitability for a role. Surveying in the coastal zone is rewarding, but challenging, and in our experience suits people who are hardworking, dynamic, and driven in achieving the objectives of a given project.
Job description:
The position offers a variety of responsibilities that would require the successful candidate to work both offshore away from home and onshore at A-2-Sea’s offices based in Romsey, to deliver all aspects of a project. The key roles of the position include:
- Planning and preparation of A-2-Sea survey projects.
- Continuous investigation of new technologies to utilise in future projects.
- Mobilisation and calibration of survey equipment to A-2-Sea’s survey vessels as well as vessel of opportunity.
- Acquisition of hydrographic and geophysical data using a variety of survey equipment.
- Data QC.
- Data processing and production of deliverables.
- Report writing and interpretation of results.
- Development of A-2-Sea’s processes and procedures.
Essential experience:
- Experience of a variety of survey equipment including Kongsberg, R2Sonic and Reason multibeam systems, Applanix positioning systems and Sonardyne USBL systems.
- A strong knowledge of using industry software including QPS QINSy and Caris HIPS & SIPS.
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in hydrographic survey.
- A higher education degree in hydrographic surveying (ideally IHO Cat-A accredited) or related science-based subject.
- Willing to work away from home for periods up to 4 weeks (periods away from home can vary from a few days to a few weeks).
- A proactive approach to achieving tasks.
- Good interpersonal and written communication skills.
- A keen interest in working the coastal zone.
- Experience of working within a team but with the ability to work independently.
- Ability to understand how their actions impact their surrounding environment and the wider project.
- Possession of a full, valid UK driving licence.
Desirable experience:
- Experience of working on nautical charting, cable route and offshore renewable energy projects in shallow water environments.
- Ability to lead vessel mobilisations.
- User of software including Kongsberg SIS, QPS Qimera, BeamWorx AutoClean, QPS Fledermaus.
- Experience of operating Side Scan Sonar systems with data acquisition and QC.
- Knowledge of GIS software.
- Holds valid offshore medical and sea survival certification.
This is an exciting opportunity for experienced Hydrographic Surveyors to join and develop a growing and successful survey department. To apply for this position please send your CV and covering letter to Nicola Tucker: [email protected]
Charles River Analytics and Teledyne Gavia announce automated target recognition options for gavia vehicles
Teledyne Gavia, a global leader in the manufacture of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), has introduced Charles River Analytics’ AutoTRap Onboard™ AI-based object detection software as a new capability onboard their Gavia marine vehicles. As underwater operations become more complex and dangerous, AI tech has emerged as the clear solution for delivering the consistent and accurate results that have proven elusive until now due to the challenges of ever-changing marine environments. Enter AutoTRap Onboard—a smart, real-time automated target recognition (ATR) app offered by Charles River Analytics.
The new partnership with Teledyne Gavia expands the boundaries for underwater unmanned sonar operation. Now, operators can acquire Teledyne Gavia’s best-in-class unmanned underwater vehicles with AutoTRap Onboard software inside.“AutoTRap Onboard automatically detects and identifies target objects in real time,” said Dr. Arjuna Balasuriya, Senior Scientist at Charles River Analytics. “This product saves time and money— operators don’t have to bring the vehicle to the surface, download its data, and then send it back down for further investigation (if necessary). With Teledyne Gavia, we offer our customers a better experience, giving them confidence that the area is clear and it’s safe to operate.”Bob Melvin, Vice President of Engineering at Teledyne Marine Systems, added, “Our customers have been asking us for a reliable way to carry out seafloor surveys, such as mine hunting. AutoTRap Onboard makes finding these targets of interest much easier and builds higher levels of confidence in AI systems.”
In environments that are challenging for target detection, AutoTRap Onboard has demonstrated excellent detection rates and false positive rates; identifying truncated conical objects on a rocky volcanic seafloor with a 90% probability of detection.
AI software must perform as expected despite constant variations in the deployment environment. AutoTRap Onboard has been designed with a versatile architecture that is robust across different environments, new sensor types, and changing mission goals.
AutoTRap Onboard includes:
- Target Detector and Target Classifier – Novel machine learning algorithms that process sonar images to detect, classify, and localize targets of interest.
- Target Library – Collection of trained targets. The Target Detector searches for these targets in the sonar image.
AutoTRap is part of the rich suite of ATR products offered by Charles River Analytics.
“Our commercial partners and customers—like Teledyne GAVIA—have various autodetection and recognition needs. Some must locate and classify objects on the seafloor (e.g., shipping containers lost at sea), while others must find or track objects on the ground, in the sky, or in space,” explained Dr. Elaine B. Coleman, Vice President of Commercialization at Charles River Analytics. To detect the wide range of objects relevant to ocean surveys, AutoTrap Onboard can learn new objects by training on new target profiles as they are added to the Target Library. Charles River Analytics develops leading-edge software by combining agile innovation with robust engineering, applying experience derived from decades of designing solutions for austere environments. Our ATR app is developed, integrated, and deployed on market-leading AUVs offered by Teledyne Gavia. Customers can now leverage our joint expertise.
Contact Elaine Coleman at Charles River or Melissa Rossi at Teledyne for more information.
For more information visit www.cra.com