Introduction ....The Multi-Beam Concept...

Conventional side scan systems use a single beam per side to generate an image of the sea floor. The physics of this type of sonar results in degradation of image resolution with range from the towfish and requires speeds of 5 knots or less to insure 100 percent bottom coverage. Both of the above short comings are eliminated by the Multi-beam design. With beam steering and focusing techniques, several simultaneous adjacent parallel beams are generated per side.

This allows for 100 % coverage at very high tow speeds with extraordinary resolution and image clarity.

 

Series 5000 System Description

The Series 5000 Systems consist of a Towfish, Towcable, a Transceiver/Processor Unit, and a PC for system control and data viewing.

The stainless steel towfish incorporates two multi-channel acoustic arrays and a pressure bottle which houses all of the electronics and sensors necessary for sonar acquisition, altitude sensing, system control, and telemetry.

The sonar and sensor data is transmitted up the towcable via a high speed digital telemetry link, requiring only a single coaxial or fiber-optic cable.

The surface mounted Transceiver /Processor Unit receives the data, performs all necessary digital processing functions on this data, and relays control commands to the towfish. Processed data is then distributed to one or multiple PC Display and Control Units via a 100 Based T Ethernet LAN network where the tasks of data viewing, storage, and analysis can be accomplished.

SonarPro Software is easy to use, intuitive, and very powerful taking full advantage of the 100 Based T Ethernet LAN network. This provides the very best in speed, data display and handling. The software was designed by sonar users for sonar users.

 

The System 5500

The system 5500 is a 5 beam side scan sonar designed for hydrographic applications requiring high resolution images of the sea floor and bottom obstructions while operating at towspeeds of up to 10 knots with an overall swath width of 300 meters.

System 5500 Specifications

 

 

Sample Images.........................

Collecting Data at 15 knots....

 

Applications

Hydrography
Mine Hunting and Q-Route Surveys
Pipeline and Offshore Surveys
Geological Surveys
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
High Profile Search and Recovery Operations

NOAA operation report summary

Series 5000 System Brochure .pdf 227 kb