Key Features

Single box solution for motion sensor and gyrocompass

0.04 degree heading precision 

0.01 degree roll and pitch accuracy

5cm / 5% heave accuracy

Fast follow up speed of 500/Sec

Available in surface and subsea versions rated to 1000, 3000, 5000 metres

Ethernet interface

Transport approved Li-Ion battery back up as standard

Flexible power input AC or DC

On board 8GB memory (Expandable to 32GB)

MTBF RLG >300,000 hours MTBF Lodestar >50,000 hours

Designed and Approved to IMO Resolution A424(XI)

Datasheets

Lodestar Surface

Lodestar Subsea

Lodestar is a solid state IMO approved Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) and Acoustically Aided Inertial Navigation System (AAINS).

The unit comprises 3 high grade/high reliability, commercially available Ring Laser Gyros (RLGs) and 3 linear accelerometers. A Sonardyne developed gyrocompass algorithm runs in the background even when used as an AAINS.

A flexible AC or DC power input has been incorporated to facilitate surface vessel applications. With the battery back up capability supplied, the unit is able to continue running the AHRS and AAINS algorithm during vessel power brown-outs.

The Lodestar AHRS algorithm outputs precise heading, roll, pitch and heave estimation in dynamic conditions without the need for external aiding inputs or vessel manoeuvres.

Lodestar is the core component in Sonardyne SPRINT and DP-INS systems. It directly interfaces to aiding sensors such as USBL or LBL transceivers, a DVL, a GNSS receiver, a pressure sensor and a sound speed sensor (SSS).

Applications Include:

An optimised USBL system: The directly coupled precise attitude data complements the precision of advanced USBL systems.

As a precise position input to DP systems using AAINS, a USBL system and one or more seabed reference beacons for operations in excess of 2000m.

As a positioning system for an ROV, aided by a combination of position estimates from a topside USBL system, vehicle mounted DVL, pressure, sound speed and LBL transceiver (subsea option).

Multi-beam Surveys