Overview

Scout USBL is a complete vessel based underwater positioning system for tracking divers, ROVs and towfish. Compact, portable and easy to install on any vessel, Scout is designed to appeal to users with little or no prior experience of acoustic positioning and those who want to arrive on location, switch on and begin tracking a target immediately.

Scout calculates the position of a subsea target by measuring the range and bearing from a vessel mounted transceiver to a small acoustic transponder fitted to the target; a technique known as Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) positioning. USBL positioning is widely used by the offshore and oceanographic industries as it offers high accuracy performance combined with ease of operation. One of its main advantages is that no other in-water acoustic equipment has to be deployed before underwater operations can commence. Only the targets being tracked need to be equipped with a transponder.

With Scout, a support boat can arrive on location, deploy a diver, ROV or towfish and begin tracking it straightaway. This has particular benefits for search and salvage applications when search times are critical.

Three versions of Scout are available; Scout, Scout Plus and Scout-Pro. Scout and Scout Plus are entry level systems that can track one surface vessel and up to six subsea targets at a range of up to 500 metres. Scout-Pro is designed to provide more complex survey support through its fully featured software. It provides greater accuracy, additional tracking capabilities and a 1,000 metre operating range. All three versions of Scout are quick to set up and deploy whilst offering high accuracy and affordability.

Features & Benefits

Specifically designed for tracking ROVs, divers and towfish within inshore or coastal waters

Complete easy to use system; all sensors, hardware and software provided

Affordable, high accuracy positioning performance

Three versions available; Scout, Scout Plus and Scout-Pro

Compact, portable and quick to install

Easy upgrade path to Ranger and Fusion deep water USBL systems

A Typical Scout System

Scout USBL systems are comprised of four main components; control software, a rack-mounted or portable command and interface unit, acoustic transceiver and transponders attached to each target being tracked.

Software
The User Interface for Scout and Scout Plus is easy to learn, set-up and operate. It shares a common look and feel with Sonardyne’s Ranger USBL software applications products thereby ensuring operator familiarity when switching between products. Scout-Pro software offers advanced features for complex survey support including tracking of up to 10 targets, responder mode, extended Kalman filter, configurable sensor displays and high update rate tracking.

SIU and SCU
The Surface Interface Unit (SIU) supplied with Scout and Scout Plus systems is a rack-mountable unit that supplies power and communications to the system’s transceiver. It’s connected to the user’s own PC or laptop via a serial or USB link and requires a 110-240V AC power supply. Alternatively, Scout and Scout Plus can also be controlled using a rugged, splashproof, battery powered command unit that allows users to operate the system from almost any type of boat. The features of an SIU are incorporated into a portable, fully self contained Surface Command Unit (SCU) with integrated PC, large touch screen display, sensor interface and battery pack.

In common with Ranger and Fusion USBL systems, Scout-Pro systems are controlled using a Navigation Controller Unit (NCU). The NCU is the interface between the acoustic instruments, sensors and the user's own PC. In addition to accurately time stamping incoming data from external devices such as GPS, VRU and Gyro, the NCU also provides power and communications for ship-borne acoustic transceivers.

Transceiver
The Type 8024 Scout transceiver provides a hemispherical pattern of acoustic coverage enabling tracking of targets from far below through to near surface. For this reason, it is suitable for a wide variety of tasks such as towfish tracking.

The compact and lightweight design of the transceiver allows it to be deployed on a rigid, over-the-side pole or through a standard 150mm (6”) gate valve if one is available. Sonardyne can supply a lightweight pole, complete with fittings and advice on installation, if required. To simplify set up, an integrated motion sensor automatically compensates for the dynamic motion of the vessel. For higher accuracy work external reference sensors can be used.

Transponders
Scout is compatible with Sonardyne's family of low cost Coastal and Lightweight Release Transponders( LRTs). These transponders have been designed for applications where size and weight are important operational factors, such as installation on the back of a diver or small ROV. Scout Plus and Scout-Pro are also compatible with Coastal and LRT transponders as well as Sonardyne's more advanced Type 8071 Wideband Sub-Mini (WSM) transponder. The WSM features an omni-directional transducer for wide acoustic coverage, a 1,000 metre depth rating, integral depth sensor to aid USBL positioning and responder mode for fast position updates.

USBL Product Guide
Still not sure which sure which Sonardyne USBL system is right for you? Click here for our USBL Product Guide

Where in the world is Scout? Click here for an extract from Sonardyne's Baseline magazine providing a world wide look at where Scout is used.