Seafloor Systems has confirmed that the company will be demonstrating its latest USV (uncrewed surface vessel) dockside at the upcoming Oceanology International event in London. The EchoBoat-240 is a 2.5m / 8ft remotely-operated survey vessel that is designed for confined or shallow bodies of water where traditional survey methods are not suitable.
The EchoBoat-240 allows for remote-controlled or semi-autonomous navigation of waterways, and integrates high-resolution multibeam sonar equipment in a compact package. Its moonpool allows for flexible installation of multibeam systems from leading brands in the industry.
While a survey is underway, the vessel can be monitored within line-of-sight, with over-the- horizon monitoring possible when running additional hardware. All survey data is stored on an onboard PC. Full equipment control and data acquisition is accomplished with a remote data link.
Switching from autonomous to remote control on the USV is accomplished using a long range remote control unit (RCU) that offers up to 2km range, with a survey endurance of up to 8 hours on a single charge. For professional hydrographic survey requirements, the EchoBoat-240 may be tailored to customer needs.
The USV can be delivered ready to accept existing equipment provided by the user, or with a selected sensor payload pre-installed. Customized cabling can also be included, allowing the boat to accept existing GPS, GNSS and RTK positioning systems.
For a turnkey survey-grade system, the EchoBoat-240 can be outfitted with singlebeam, multibeam, and side scan sonar systems. The EchoBoat-240 is compatible with various hydrographic software packages, including Hypack, PDS2000, EIVA and QINSy.
