Fetch AZA revolutionises seabed measurements, across ocean science and the commercial sectors. It's now possible to record high-resolution data from a self-calibrating sensor, at all depths, for long durations of up to 10 years.
At a glance
Self-calibrating for accurate environmental monitoring
Long life—up to 10 years battery life
3,000 and 6,000 m depth options
Easy to deploy, easy to recover
Can be configured with a wide range of sensors
Integrated acoustic modem for data recovery
Suitable for
Low cost in-situ ocean surveillance
Want to know more?
Command and control from a vessel or USV
Engineering using industry-standard glass spheres, trusted globally
Patented self-calibrating system ensures pressure sensors never drift
Integrated acoustic release mechanism for easy recover after survey
Why Fetch AZA is perfect for your operations
Remote
Data from Fetch AZAs can be recovered using USVs from over-the-horizon meaning you no longer need a dedicated crewed vessel with associated costs and emissions.
Accurate
The high quality pressure sensor is automatically recalibrated in situ allowing consistently accurate readings over a deployment period of up to 10 years.
Repeatable
Fetch AZA makes detecting and recording centimetric horizontal and vertical movement achievable and repeatable over time.
Overview
Unlike traditional pressure sensors, which suffer from drift over time, our Fetch AZA technology autonomously recalibrates in situ.
A unique control system periodically cycles the pressure sensor from ambient seabed pressure to near-zero, enabling comparison to a highly accurate low-pressure reference sensor for calibration. The reference sensor is never subjected to ambient pressure and is accurate to changes of less than a millibar, or about 1cm of head of water.
These capabilities have created an instrument that revolutionises seabed measurements, across ocean science and the commercial sectors. This means that scientists can now undertake measurements, at a resolution they’ve never been able to achieve before. These are critical to understanding tectonic processes.
In the commercial sphere, Fetch AZA now meets upstream production companies’ long-term goal of measuring 1cm/year of vertical movement across their fields. Such fine-scale measurement provides a powerful new tool for proactive reservoir management. This is a key enabler for maximizing economic recovery.
The sensors are low power, allowing for long endurance deployments, and provide time-stamped data, which is often critical to commercial and scientific objectives. With their in-built data storage and high-speed modem capacity, they can support data collection and harvesting using a wide range of other Sonardyne and third-party sensors (High precision temperature and sound velocity as well as inclination) and are compatible with any Sonardyne 6G equipment, including Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) systems and modems.
Why invest
General
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Well suited for USV data harvesting
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Can be configured with a wide range of sensors
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Different deployment and recovery options provide flexibility for your operations
Design
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Neutral buoyancy in water for easy recovery
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Anti trawl frame option available
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Glass sphere, duplex s/steel guard, PVC shell, titanium ports construction
Performance
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3,000 m and 6,000 m depth rated versions
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MF and LMF operating frequency options
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Up to 10 year battery life
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Self-calibrating pressure sensor
Support
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Work side-by-side with our Projects Group from concept to deployment
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Systems are manufactured and tested before delivery at our world-class in-house facilities
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Work with our experienced team about our USV data harvesting service
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24-hour support, whenever and wherever you are in the world
Fetch AZA case studies
Ocean Science
Measuring Mount Etna – an underwater monitoring first
A network of our instruments deployed by scientists from GEOMAR Helmholtz for 15 months has measured underwater slippage of the southeast flank of Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna, for the first time. Read more here.
Client: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research
Ocean Science
GPS-Acoustics unlock a new approach to seabed geodetics
Guest authors, Liquid Robotics, take a closer look at seafloor geodesy, an emerging scientific field that is making the real-time study of continental plate tectonics a cost-effective and viable option.
Guest Author: Liquid Robotics
Ocean Science
Long endurance monitoring of tectonic motion
On land, GPS and laser observations enable precise geodetic measurements. Until recently, the inability to undertake cost-effective complementary subsea has not been possible. Read how GEOMAR Helmholtz have been using our monitoring technology to measuring tectonic plate movements.
Client: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research
Resources
Feature | Type 8306 | |
---|---|---|
Depth Rating | 3,000 m | |
Operating Frequency | MF (20–34 kHz) | |
Transducer Beam Shape | Directional/omni-directional | |
Transmit Source Level (dB re 1 µPa @ 1 m) | 190–202/187–196 dB | |
Receive Sensitivity (dB re 1 µPa) | <85 dB | |
Communications | Acoustic modem & Bluetooth wireless | |
Battery Life (Lithium) | 10 years typical, (504 Ah) (dependent on sensors and sampling interval) | |
Mechanical Construction | Glass sphere, duplex s/steel guard, PVC shell and titanium ports | |
Operating Temperature | -5 to +35°C | |
Storage Temperature | With Batteries | 0 to +30°C |
Without Batteries | -5 to +35°C | |
Mass | With Stand | 145 kg |
Without Stand | 62 kg | |
Weight in Water | With Stand | 830 N |
Without Stand | 25 N (negative buoyancy) | |
Sensors and Options | ||
AZA In-situ Self-Calibration Mechanism | Standard | |
High Precision Temperature Sensor (±0.015°C) | Standard | |
Transfer Pressure Sensor | Quartz, (±0.01%) | Standard |
2nd Quartz | Option | |
Ambient Pressure Sensor | Strain Gauge, (±0.01%) | Standard |
Strain Gauge, (±0.19%) | Option | |
Low-Range Pressure Sensor (Strain Gauge, 2 bar (±0.01%)) | Standard | |
Sound Velocity Sensor ±0.02 m/s Accuracy Under Calibration Conditions | Option | |
MEMS Inclinometer (±1°) | Standard | |
High Precision Inclinometer (±0.05°) | Option | |
Acoustic Baseline Ranging1 | Option | |
Release Mechanism (Screw-off) | Option | |
Battery Disconnect Fob | Standard | |
Stand/Mud Feet | Option |