Bluefin, Sonardyne team for AUV market
Sonardyne International and Bluefin Robotics will collaborate to integrate Sonardyne’s Solstice Side Scan Sonar with the Bluefin 12 autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The companies made the announcement at Oceanology International in London.
The new product will expand the companies’ existing offerings to the offshore survey, search and salvage, environmental monitoring and unexploded ordnance survey operations markets.
The Bluefin 12 is a modular AUV that allows for swappable payloads. Solstice is a new-generation search and classify sonar with integrated swath bathymetry, that provides high quality imagery from a conventional (non-SAS) sonar. It is designed to produce wide swath coverage (±100 metres) whilst consuming only 18 Watts of power, increasing the operational and cost effectiveness of the AUV.
David Kelly, president and CEO, Bluefin Robotics, said: ‘Bluefin Robotics and Sonardyne have a long partnership; we already use products from their acoustic positioning and wireless communications technology ranges which are installed on some of our other AUV models. Installing Solstice is part of our latest development programme to demonstrate the technology as an integrated option for our customers.’
Nick Swift, business manager, Sonardyne Maritime Security, added: ‘Solstice has been specifically designed for AUV integration with its low power consumption and wide swath for increasing operational capability. This collaboration further shows the commitment of both companies to providing industry-leading solutions that deliver real benefits to customers.’
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