DESCRIPTION

EdgeTech manufactures a line of deep water Hydrographic Survey Systems. A system consists of a side scan sonar, digital link, surface interface, and a surface data display processor. A number of additional options may be integrated on to the system as needed. The 2200-M Modular Side Scan Sonar System is designed for installation on an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) or on a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV). It gathers side scan data using EdgeTech's proprietary Full Spectrum (enhanced chirp) technology in water depths up to 6000 meters.

A modular system is provided as a complete package including sensors and pressure vessel. Alternatively, it can be integrated into the AUV pressure housing. The system can operate independent of the AUV by setting parameters before deployment, or a processor on the AUV can control it. Heave, pitch, roll, yaw, temperature and pressure are additonal optional sensors.

The Side Scan Sonar

EdgeTech’s Deep Water Full Spectrum "chirp" side scan sonar is a calibrated wide band digital FM sonar that provides quantitative and qualitative, high-resolution, low-noise side scan imagery. It simultaneously transmits linearly swept FM pulses centered at 2 discrete frequencies. A number of center frequency options are available. The transmission of a longer duration, wide bandwidth pulse result in higher resolution sonar images and, because more energy is projected into the water, greater SNR resulting in extended range.

An important feature of Full Spectrum side scan sonar is the reduction of side lobes in the effective transducer aperture. The wide band and linearity of the FM sweep smears the side lobes of the transducer and thus achieves a beam pattern with virtually no side lobes. Four frequency sets are offered: 75/410 kHz, 120/410 kHz, 75/120 kHz or 300/600 khz dual simultaneous.

Typical System Configuration

• One of three simultaneous dual frequency side scan sonar options.
• Model FS-DW underwater Full Spectrum processor.
• StarMux digital link and power for use on a coax tow cable.
• Model 2000 topside sonar display processor hardware.
• DISCOVER software for display storage and printing of sonar data.
• Optional integration (mechanical/power/data) of sensors such as motion, heading, depth, altitude, navigation, multi-beam echo sounder, magnetometer etc.

 

ROV

EdgeTech's deep-water combined sonar can be installed on a variety of ROVs. A modular system is provided as a complete package including sensors and pressure vessel. Alternatively, it can be integrated into the ROV systems. For example, the ROV can provide power and a 2-way digital link to the surface. It can also provide a pressure housing for the underwater electronics.

Typical System Configuration

• One of three simultaneous dual frequency side scan sonar options.
• Model FS-DW underwater Full Spectrum Chirp processor.
• Optional StarMux digital link and power.
• Model 2000 topside sonar display processor.
• DISCOVER Software for display storage and printing of sonar data.
• Optional integration (mechanical/power/data) of sensors such as motion, heading, depth, altitude, navigation, multi-beam echo sounder, magnetometer etc.

AUV

The deep-water combined sonar has been especially designed for installation on an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) or on an Un-tethered Underwater Vehicle (UUV). Low power electronics and techniques such as turning off the amplifier and turning the power down, if not needed, are used to reduce the power consumption. The ability to accurately set and monitor the real time clock keeps the sonar data synchronized with navigation and other sensor data on the AUV.

A modular system is provided as a complete package including sensors and pressure vessel. Alternatively, it can be integrated into the AUV pressure housing. The system can operate independent of the AUV by setting parameters before deployment, or an AUV payload controller can command, control and store the sonar data. A second decimated simultaneous data stream can be fed into an acoustic link so that real time sub-bottom profiler and side scan sonar data can be displayed on the surface.

Post mission sonar data can be offloaded to the Model 2000 Topside Display Processor running EdgeTech’s DISCOVER software. Here the sonar data can be replayed on the video monitor and printed.

Typical System Configuration

• One of three simultaneous dual frequency side scan sonar options.
• Model FS-AU Full Spectrum "chirp" processor.
• Model 2000 Topside sonar display processor
• DISCOVER Software for display storage and printing of sonar data.