Tracking, Navigation, Positioning and Communication Sensors for AUV, ROV, USV

Sonardyne is a leading global provider of marine acoustic, inertial, optical and sonar technologies for tracking, communication, and positioning of surface and underwater unmanned robotic platforms, such as USVs, AUVs, and ROVs.

Our products equip surface and subsea unmanned and autonomous platforms (unmanned surface vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles) to undertake a wide variety of missions, including military, exploration, surveying, and oil & gas.

In addition to a wide range of off-the-shelf and OEM underwater equipment, we also provide a complete custom engineering service for clients’ unique subsea vehicle tracking projects.  Based on over 40 years of subsea inertial navigation experience, our team will handle design, prototyping, manufacture, testing and training. Please get in touch with your requirements.

OEM & Custom Instruments

AvTrak 6 OEM UAV Tracking & Communications Module

Accurate AUV Tracking & Navigation

Designed for 12 and 21 inch class AUVs, the AvTrak 6 combines a USBL transponder, LBL transceiver and modem into one low-power unit that provides absolute position reference data for AUV inertial navigation systems (INS). The unit is capable of broadcasting robust telemetry for AUV to vessel and AUV to AUV communications.

The instrument is available in different configurations, with integral or remote transducer options, directional transducer and high power (HP) variants, and depth ratings of up to 7000m. An OEM version is available without housing, for integration into existing equipment.

Read more: AUV Tracking & Communications Module – AvTrak 6 OEM

Subsea Navigation Sensors

Syrinx Subsea Doppler Velocity Log

High accuracy AUV & ROV navigation

The Syrinx Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) is a 600 kHz system designed for both unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles that can be used as a standalone DVL, as part of an integrated system, or perform both functions at once. This dual capability means that only one DVL/altitude sensor is required for both ROV control and survey crews, saving on cost and payload space.

Syrinx can be integrated with Sonardyne’s SPRINT INS to provide superior DVL-aided navigation, with enhanced velocity prediction and redundant positioning capability. Syrinx also features a robust low-altitude mode that provides high accuracy and high output rates even when operating at altitudes of less than 1m.

Syrinx is supplied with a 4000m-rated titanium housing as standard, with 3000m, 6000m, and OEM (no housing) versions also available.

Read more: Syrinx Subsea Doppler Velocity Log

USBL Acoustic Technology

Ranger 2 Subsea Positioning (USBL) System

Remote AUV & ROV tracking and communication

Designed for deep and shallow-water tracking of subsea vessels and with an operating range of greater than 7000m, the Ranger 2 is a high-performance USBL (Ultra-Short Base Line) subsea vehicle positioning system that provides an optimal accuracy of better than 0.1%.

It is compatible with all DP (dynamic positioning) systems on the market.

Ranger 2 can simultaneously track multiple subsea targets or transponder nodes and upload data to the surface with high-speed communications. It is ideal for a wide range of ROV or AUV missions including surveying, ocean science and seismic exploration.

The Ranger 2 USBL tracking system can be installed on USVs to remotely track the position of underwater targets, such as AUVs, and communicate with them.

The capabilities of Ranger 2 can be extended even further with optional Survey, Dynamic Positioning and Professional add-on packs.

Read more: Ranger 2 Subsea Positioning (USBL) System

Mini-Ranger 2 Underwater Positioning System

Precision tracking for divers and small ROVs

Mini-Ranger 2 is a USBL underwater positioning system that can track up to ten underwater targets such as divers and ROVs at depths of up to 995 metres. Compact and portable, Mini-Ranger 2 is ideal for nearshore missions on smaller vessels.

Mini-Ranger 2 comprises a desk or rack-mounted Ethernet Serial Hub and the high-powered HPT 3000 acoustic transceiver. Sonardyne’s 6G and Wideband 2 technologies offer precise acoustic ranging and hardware even in the most challenging of subsea environments, and the system is compatible with a variety of Sonardyne 6G mini transponders for a wide range of missions.

Read more: Mini-Ranger 2 Underwater Positioning System

Sonar – Underwater Imaging

Solstice AUV Side-Scan Sonar

Ultra-high resolution Multiple Aperture Sonar for AUVs

Powerful onboard processing produces geo-coded side-scan imagery for integrated Computer Aided Detection and Classification (CAD/CAC) and Automatic Target Recognition (ATR). A vertical hydrophone array on each flank delivers high-quality bathymetry data which can be used to produce extremely detailed digital terrain maps.

This high resolution imagery was collected by the Solstice AUV sidescan sonar:

Read more: Solstice AUV Side-Scan Sonar

Subsea Optical Communications

BlueComm Subsea Optical Communication System

High-speed data transfer for AUVs

BlueComm is an underwater wireless optical communication system for high-speed transfer of video and data as well as tetherless control of unmanned underwater vehicles. In-build Ethernet connectivity allows plug-and-play integration with existing subsea networks. A highly flexible system architecture allows for integration with other Sonardyne acoustic navigation, control and monitoring devices.

BlueComm is available in three variants:

• BlueComm 100, optimised for shallow-water high ambient light environments and providing a data rate of 5 Mbps at 10m range
• BlueComm 200, which is designed for deepwater and night-time operations and transmits at up to 12.5 Mbps with a range of up to 150m
• BlueComm 5000, a dual bi-directional laser system that can achieve a data transfer rate of 500 Mbps

Read more: BlueComm Subsea Optical Communication System