Biomimetic Subsea Imaging Sensors for ROVs & AUVs

ELWAVE is an innovative developer of subsea imaging sensors for ROVs (remotely operated vehicles), AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles) and subsea robotic platforms. UST is delighted to welcome ELWAVE on board as a supplier partner, and we will be highlighting their unique solutions and capabilities across our channels over the next 12 months.

We’ve just launched ELWAVE’s UST supplier profile, which has been written and built by our team in collaboration with the company. The Silver profile showcases their sensors, which are based on a unique and world-first biomimetic electric sensing technology and are ideal for a wide range of unmanned underwater vehicle applications in both the civilian and military sectors.

Read on to find out more:

ELWAVE’s CEDAR (Controlled Electric Detection And Ranging) technology is inspired by the electrical sensory perception of tropical freshwater fishes, which use this unique capability to navigate, hunt prey, and communicate with each other in challenging environments where sight and echolocation are ineffective.

CEDAR generates a low-frequency AC electric field that is disrupted by objects in the near vicinity, causing changes in current intensity. These disturbances can be measured and used to characterize the underwater environment even in the murkiest of conditions.

Octopulse is a compact and lightweight imaging sensor based on ELWAVE’s proprietary CEDAR technology, and is ideal for a wide range of platforms, including ROVs, AUVs and crawler robots. The modular system utilizes an array of up to eight electrodes with cables up to 7 metres in length, and provides 360-degree real-time detection.

The sensor provides highly effective detection, localisation and classification of both metallic and non-metallic objects as well as buried targets. It delivers excellent performance in noisy environments and high levels of suspended sediments, and works both in water and in air. With no moving parts and low power consumption, it can provide contactless characterisation of any kind of surface or material, and is ideal for long-term deployments requiring little maintenance.

The export restriction-free Octopulse is provided as a complete kit comprising the sensor pod, up to eight electrodes and cables, and all necessary firmware and user interface software. It is currently available in 300m and 6000m depth-rated versions.

To find out more about ELWAVE and their biomimetic subsea imaging sensors for ROVs and AUVs, please visit their profile page:
https://www.unmannedsystemstechnology.com/company/elwave/