Unmanned Systems Technology 015 | Martin UAV V-Bat | William Sachiti | Sonar Systems | USVs | Desert Aircraft DA150 EFI | SeaCat AUV/ROV | Gimbals

64 Digest | SeaCat AUV/ROV These are rated at 1.6 kWh per module and also support the sail/fin containing the comms equipment, the recovery hook, an EdgeTech sidescan imaging sonar on the sides and an RDI Explorer Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) underneath. The wireless comms system includes Iridium and Argos satcom equipment and wi-fi, while navigation is handled by an iXblue PHINS III-aided inertial navigation system that integrates an IMU, the DVL, pressure sensors and an MB Two GPS receiver from Trimble. Ahead of that is a second section containing a horizontal thruster for yaw control at very low speeds and a second vertical thruster. Next comes a slim section consisting of an adapter between the vehicle’s main body and its power and data services, and whichever SwapHead sensor section is installed, along with a forward-looking sonar and a single-beam echo sounder for obstacle avoidance. Prototype at work A prototype in this configuration conducted about 42 test campaigns between April 2010 and October 2016 in various applications, says Kalwa. These included geological surveys, harbour inspections in the above-mentioned CView effort, mine and unexploded ordnance reconnaissance missions, plus offshore mapping and petrology demonstrations. In 2012, for example, the SeaCat carried out an inspection of a 24 km concrete water supply pipe 2.25 m in diameter running under the Swabian Jura mountains in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. There were no intermediate access points between the inflow basin at one end and the pumping station at the other, and the mission had to be terminated at exactly the right position to allow the AUV to be retrieved. The SwapHead system There are currently nine defined SwapHeads and a tenth that provides the basis for customer-developed heads. Survey Head One contains a Norbit WBMS multi-beam echo sounder (MBES) for high-resolution bathymetric surveys and an Atlas UUV Cam with low- light and HD video capabilities. Operating at between 200 and 400 kHz, and with an instantaneous bandwidth of 80 kHz, the MBES consumes about 40 W of power and happily runs off the battery. The sonar forms beams with widths of 0.9° x 0.9° at 400 kHz and covers swathe sectors of between 7° and 210°. With a range of more than 100 m, it is claimed to resolve details smaller than 10 mm and generates either 256 or 512 beams using both equiangular and equidistant bottom detection modes. Survey Head Two carries an R2 Sonic August/September 2017 | Unmanned Systems Technology An advanced SeaCat prototype completed wind turbine base inspection tasks as part of an extensive testing campaign during development