Wavefront, a leading developer of state-of-the-art underwater imaging and navigation sonar systems for AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles), ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), USVs (uncrewed surface vessels) and towed platforms, has partnered with Unmanned Systems Technology (“UST”) to demonstrate their expertise in this field. The ‘Silver’ profile highlights how the company’s solutions can be used for a wide variety of military and civilian missions requiring the latest in underwater vision capabilities.
Solstice is an ultra-high resolution multi-aperture side-scan sonar delivering class-leading imagery over wide scan areas. With 100m of swath coverage on either side, the interferometric sonar system features co-located side-scan imagery and bathymetry, providing enhanced situational awareness with unprecedented detail.
Each of Solstice’s 300 metre-rated arrays utilises 32 receiver elements, enabling superior data gathering, improved signal-to-noise ratio and excellent image fidelity. All imagery produced is suitable for simultaneous search and classification, and Computer Aided Detection and Classification (CAD/CAC).
Optimized for low-logistics AUVs, the versatile platform is also easy to install on ROVs and towfish systems. The compact system draws just 18W of power, making it ideal for integration into SWaP (size, weight and power)-limited systems with minimal impact on endurance.
Vigilant is a Forward Looking Sonar (FLS) designed to enhance situational awareness and obstacle avoidance for USVs and UUVs operating in uncharted and hazard-prone waters. The underwater sonar sensor provides timely alerts for threats below the surface, allowing vessels to take clear evasive action.
Delivering unrivalled resolution and detail, Vigilant can be retrofitted to almost any existing vessel, significantly reducing the risk of groundings and underwater collisions with debris, ice, marine mammals and other hazards.
Vigilant has two principle modes of operation. 3D mode uses bathymetry and colour-coded depth imagery to create a 3D terrain map of the seabed and water column ahead out to 600 m and down to 100 m. Sonar mode extracts long-range positional data, providing customizable automated alarms to warn of objects up to 1.5 km ahead with a 120-degree field of view.
To find out more about Wavefront and their underwater imaging systems for USVs and UUVs, please visit their profile page: https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/wavefront-systems/
