Description
The system provides:
- Leading edge sonar performance that rivals the best helicopter dipping sonars on the market.
- Fully integrated unmanned operation capability.
- Rugged construction for reliable operation and simple maintenance in the marine environment.
Advantages over Adapted helicopter dipping sonars due to USV-dedicated design:
- Capable of sustained acoustic transmissions at both high power and high duty cycle (no need to wait and re-charge a power bank in the SU).
- System is designed specifically for an extended lifetime operating in the harsh marine environment:
- Equipment is designed for naval shipboard shock and vibration.
- On-deck components and materials are selected to withstand the elements, water loading, and corrosion of a small vessel’s open deck environment at sea.
- Simplified interfaces instead of specialized, aircraft-specific interfaces, simplifying system components and maintenance.
Active Frequency | VLF |
Transmit | Omni |
Source Level | High Power |
Max Operational Depth | 500 m |
Features
- Cylindrical body housing transmit and receive acoustic arrays, as well as telemetry, non acoustic sensors, and associated components
- Collapsing design provides a low-drag compact form factor for deployment and recovery, but expands for operation to provide large, high-performance acoustic arrays
- Transmit array deploys vertically below body
- Receive array staves deploys radially out from body
- Simplified SU requirements enable a reliable design:
- SU contains no power storage or amplifier components (replaced with dry end amplifier)
- Simplified, rugged actuation mechanisms