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:
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- 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!
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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
Valeport launches next generation of sensors for subsea survey and ROV/AUV operations
Valeport, a leading manufacturer of oceanographic and hydrographic instrumentation has further expanded its portfolio’s capability with the launch of two new sensors for ROVs/AUVs and subsea survey.
Valeport has launched the new miniIPS2 and new uvSVX which both offer operationally specific interchangeable pressure transducers that deliver enhanced accuracy for specific depth ranges. These field-swappable sensor heads make it easy for users to select the correct pressure range for their work and offer increased accuracy at any depth, alongside streamlining benefits to users who previously required different instruments for shallow and deep water.
The smart miniIPS2 underwater pressure sensor with accuracy to 0.01%, offers a cost-effective solution to vehicle pilots who require highly accurate depth information in real time. Key to the design is the unique interchangeable pressure module that allows users to change pressure transducers for maximising operational specific depth requirements. This innovative pressure module, with integral calibration, can be easily changed in a couple of minutes without opening the instrument and is available in 10, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600bar variants.
The pressure sensor module fitted to the miniIPS is a temperature compensated piezo-resistive sensor which delivers the performance previously only available from resonant quartz sensor at a more cost-effective price. It also brings the added advantages of long-term stability, allowing longer intervals between calibration, and a smaller and more robust construction; complex and vulnerable arrangements of diaphragms and oil filled capillaries and reservoirs are therefore no longer necessary. The miniIPS2 is compatible with Valeport’s MIDAS BathyPack and BathyLog software, allowing the depth data to be continually updated for Density variations in the water column.
Designed for underwater vehicles where space is at a premium, the compact uvSVX features Valeport’s Time of Flight technology and delivers salinity, conductivity and density data, along with SVP as standard. High accuracy data is assured with the addition of Valeport’s unique interchangeable pressure module that allows users to maximise operational specific depth requirements. This advanced pressure module, with integral calibration, is quickly and easily changed whilst in the field, with no tools required and without opening the instrument. Delivering 0.01% accuracy, the interchangeable pressure transducer is available in 10, 20,30, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600bar variants.
Using the latest developments in digital sensor technology the new uvSVX is lightweight and housed in a titanium with a depth rating of 6000m and delivers a reliably accurate performance under all conditions.
For more than fifty years Valeport has been committed to pushing the boundaries of marine instrumentation to deliver ultimate accuracy, as Guy Frankland head of marketing commented: “The new interchangeable pressure modules on both these instruments are a unique combination of exceptional reliability and precision accuracy with an enhanced and efficient user experience and makes them ideally suited to innovative underwater vehicles.”
The new miniIPS2 and uvSVX are now available to order. For more information contact: [email protected] www.valeport.co.uk
Royal Canadian Navy embarks with OFG on the demonstration of a mobile range with AUVs for warship signature management
OFG will deploy its Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) non-contact integrated Cathodic Protection (iCP) system and Self-Compensating Magnetometer (SCM) systems for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) for a demonstration of a mobile magnetic signature range.
Ocean Floor Geophysics Inc. (OFG) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a contract to test SCMs and its Underwater Electric Potential (UEP) system on an AUV to measure and model the magnetic and electric signatures of a non-combatant training vessel provided by the RCN. These systems are already deployed commercially by OFG as part of its AUV non-contact integrated Cathodic Protection (iCP) inspection system for subsea pipeline and structure inspection by AUV.
The results of the tests will be used to evaluate several scenarios to complement and extend current vessel signature measurement capabilities. Some scenarios contemplated by OFG include taking the range to the ship instead of the ship to the range, ranging for deployed unit to avoid costly detours and delays, and “quick looks” for suspected faults in degaussing systems, and the potential for use as part of an automated ship signature management system.
The data will be collected by OFG sensors integrated with the SOLUS-LR AUV, a long range AUV capable of long-range port to port missions, built by Cellula Robotics Ltd (CRL). In addition to sensor integration, CRL will provide engineering services, a remote operations piloting control centre, and their AUV support vessel Ranger for the field trials. The contract was awarded by Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) and will be executed under the supervision of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
Matthew Kowalczyk CEO of OFG stated “Adapting our industry proven SCM and iCP systems from AUV non-contact cathodic protection pipeline inspection to a warship signature management program is a great example of OFG’s expertise in marine magnetic and electric field measurement systems. The commitment of the Royal Canadian Navy to test the AUV SCMs in this application is a concrete example of Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged through their support of innovative Canadian people and companies.”
For more information on OFG visit www.oceanfloorgeophysics.com