Innovation at work
We’ve engineered BlueComm 200 to push the boundaries of your underwater communication. Using advanced LED technology and sensitive photomultiplier tubes, you’ll achieve communication ranges up to 150 m. Its design houses the emitter separately from the receiver, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
Fast and flexible – key features to power your mission
- Lightning-fast data transfer: 2.5 to 10 Mbps at ranges up to 150 m
- Optimal performance: Perfect for moderate to low turbidity dark water (>200 m depth or at night)
- Flexible deployment: Connect with your AUV, ROV, USV or surface dunker system
- Deep-rated capability: Ready for operations up to 4,000 m
- Speed of light technology: Experience unprecedented data transmission rates
Perfect for your platform
Perfect for your:
- Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
- Extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUV)
- Uncrewed Surface Vehicles
- Remotely Operated Vehicles
- Tracking and communications systems
Choose your perfect match:
BlueComm 200
When you need maximum range and performance in dark water conditions, our visible light system delivers up to 150 m range – ideal for video transfer and direct vehicle control. You’ll transfer data up to 10,000 times faster than acoustic systems, although ambient light may affect operating range.
BlueComm 200 UV
Working with lights on? Our UV variant maintains reliable communication even with artificial lighting present. Operating at ranges up to 75 metres, it’s your go-to solution for ROV and AUV applications requiring illumination, such as video recording missions.
Both systems offer incredible energy efficiency – transfer more than nine gigabytes of data using just one Lithium D cell battery.
Specifications table
Feature | Type 8361 BlueComm 200 UV | |
---|---|---|
Depth rating | Up to 4,000 m operation | |
Data rate | 2.5–10 Mbps | |
Optical communication range | Up to 75 m | |
Mechanical construction | Anodized aluminium or titanium | |
Supply voltage | 24–36 V dc | |
Communications interface | 10/100 Base-T Ethernet (static IP address) | |
Command interface | Graphical user interface or Ethernet UDP command set | |
Receiver unit | ||
Receive wavelength | UV (band pass filter blocking visible light) | |
Receive angle | 180° (omni-directional) | |
Receiver weight in air/water | 7.3/3.1 kg | |
Power consumption | 10 W | |
Emitter unit | ||
Optical transmit power | 6 W (radiated light) | |
Optical wavelength options | 450 nm (royal blue), 400–800 nm (white) | |
Emitter beam shape | 180° (omni-directional) | |
Emitter weight in air/water | 3.6/2.6 kg | |
power consumption | 30 W (bandwidth allocation dependant) | |
Environmental and dimensions | ||
Operating temperature range | -5 to 40°C | |
Storage temperature | -20 to 55°C | |
Dimensions (length x diameter) | Receiver | 384 x 136 mm |
Emitter | 199 x 136 mm |
STP files
Datasheets
Manuals and quick start guides
Optics
• 450 nm (royal blue), 405 nm (UV) optical wavelength
• 180° (omni-directional) beam pattern
• 10 W / 15 W receiver / transmitter optical transmit power
Design
• Titanium and glass construction
• Subconn connectors
• 5.7 kg weight in water, emitter and receiver
Performance
• 2.5 – 10 Mbps data rate
• 4000 m depth rating
• Up to 150m optical communication range
Ownership
What’s in the box?
• Manual, 2 test cables and 2 sets of one emitter and receiver
• Warranty: 1 year return to Sonardyne service centre
• ITAR Controlled: No
• UK Export Licence: Not required

Modem 6 (subsea)
Modem 6 acoustic modems are a family of cost-effective solution for simple point-to-point data transfer from a wide range of sensors including, data loggers, ADCPs, CTDs and other subsea instruments.

Modem 6 (surface)
Modem 6 acoustic modems are a family of cost-effective solutions for simple point-to-point data transfer from a wide range of sensors including, data loggers, ADCPs, CTDs and other subsea instruments.

AvTrak 6
The most versatile instrument you can fit to your AUV. Built for simple integration on medium to large AUV platforms, all-in-one functionality comes as standard with AvTrak 6. It allows your AUV to undertake simultaneous LBL ranging, USBL tracking via a surface vessel and robust telemetry for AUV to vessel and AUV-to-AUV communications.
Overview
The instrument is a turn-key solution comprised of carefully selected high grade and highly reliable inertial sensors integrated into in-house designed inertial measurement unit (IMU).
The selected inertial sensors are the standard for commercial aviation with a proven 20+ year track record. These sensors have a highly desirable characteristic being insensitive to vibration, temperature changes and having very limited initial errors. The result is a system which is highly suitable for the marine environment where performance, robustness and data integrity need to be available from initialisation, even during the harshest conditions.
Lodestar requires no external aiding and settles robustly in dynamic conditions in less than five minutes. On-board data storage and backup battery functionality ensures continued operation and eliminates the risk of data loss even if communications or external power are lost. Power-pass through to external aiding sensors is supported to ease integration requiring only a single cable for comms and power.
If a full INS solution is required, Lodestar can easily be field upgraded to a SPRINT system (apart from Lodestar 200). This makes the Lodestar a flexible and future-proof solution for both ROV guidance and survey applications.
Lodestar has a proven track record spanning more than 10 years in the field in diverse applications from ROV guidance and autopilot to demanding survey applications. The instrument is available in 4,000 and 6,000 metre depth ratings with a variety of connector options and configurations.
At a glance
- Designed to aid subsea vehicle guidance: AUVs, ROVs and UUVs
- Uses high quality Honeywell gyro and accelerometers
- Sensors available in three performance levels: 200, 300 and 500
- Fast settling time so you can get straight to work
- Integrated DVL option available; Lodestar-Nav
- Factory upgradeable to SPRINT INS
Lodestar-Nav 200
Lodestar-Nav 200 provides all-in-one navigation solution for subsea vehicles by combining a Lodestar 200 AHRS with our Syrinx Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) and a high accuracy pressure sensor in a single housing. This saves cost, payload space and the complexity of integrating and operating separate sensors from different vendors.
Lodestar-Nav is pre-calibrated providing the ROV pilots with a robust and reliable solution, even in the most challenging operational scenarios, without needing to worry about sensor offsets.
Syrinx DVL inside that provides a large altitude range and high precision at all altitudes; this combines the best of 300 and 1200 kHz DVLs. Each DVL transducer is fitted with a full depth rated water block to ensure protection of the internal components and easy replacement if damaged.
Lodestar-Nav can be interfaced via a single connection and/or the DVL can be interfaced separately depending on requirements. Continuous on-board data storage supports post-mission diagnostics and post-processing.
Size
Measuring just 260 mm tall, the 4,000 m rated titanium housing allows easy fitment to any subsea vehicle. 6,000 m housing option.
Long life sensors
Lodestars and SPRINTs use Honeywell-supplied RLGs and inertial sensors with 400,000 MTFB, which have been proven in over 20 years in commercial aircraft.
Connectivity
Most Lodestars can be upgraded to SPRINT in the field as your requirements grow so there’s no need to remove and re-install a different instrument.
Specifications
Feature | Lodestar 300 | Lodestar 500 | |
---|---|---|---|
Depth rating | 4,000 / 6,000 m | 4,000 / 6,000 m | |
Performance | |||
Heading | 0.2° | 0.1° | |
AHRS settle time | <5 minutes in dynamic conditions | <5 minutes in dynamic conditions | |
Roll and pitch | 0.01° | 0.01° | |
Power | |||
Power requirement | 20–50 V dc, 15 W nominal, 35 W maximum | 20–50 V dc, 15 W nominal, 35 W maximum | |
Power pass through | 3 x for external aiding sensors (up to 3A per sensor) | 3 x for external aiding sensors (up to 3A per sensor) | |
Back up battery type/life | Li-ion/5 minutes | Li-ion/5 minutes | |
Data/Comms | |||
Data storage | 8 GB internal memory | 8 GB internal memory | |
Serial ports/protocol | 4x RS232 or RS485 | 4x RS232 or RS485 | |
Other ports | 1x Ethernet, 4 triggers | 1x Ethernet, 4 triggers | |
Output rate | Up to 100 Hz | Up to 100 Hz | |
Output telegrams | Industry standard AHRS/INS telegrams including acceleration and rotation rates | Industry standard AHRS/INS telegrams including acceleration and rotation rates | |
Mechanical | |||
Connectors | 4x Seacon / Seanet, 1x Seacon / Seanet | 4x Seacon / Seanet, 1x Seacon / Seanet | |
Mechanical construction | Titanium | Titanium | |
Dimensions (diameter x height) |
4,000 m (Seacon) | 205 x 260 mm | 205 x 260 mm |
6,000 m (Seacon) | 205 x 280 mm | 205 x 280 mm | |
4,000 m (Seanet) | 205 x 250 mm | 205 x 250 mm | |
Weight in air/water | 4,000 m | 18.5/11.5 kg | 18.5/11.5 kg |
6,000 m | 22/14 kg | 22/14 kg | |
Environmental | |||
Operating temperature | -20 to +55°C | -20 to +55°C | |
Storage temperature | -20 to +60°C | -20 to +60°C | |
Shock rating | 22 g, 11 ms half sine | 22 g, 11 ms half sine |
Frequently asked questions
SPRINT, SPRINT-Nav, Lodestar and Lodestar-Nav troubleshooting
How to connect to the Lodestar within a Gyro USBL via an NSH
How to enter Transceiver & Lodestar Offsets for Optimised USBL
What cables do I need for my Lodestar?
How do I mate and calibrate a DVL to my Lodestar?
Can I power my subsea instruments with Lodestar or SPRINT?
How do I mate and calibrate a SPRINT or Lodestar to my Syrinx DVL?
What’s the difference between FOG and RLG?
STP files
Software and firmware
Software and control hardware
Manuals and quick start guides
Technical bulletin
Did you know?
Lodestar is highly optimised for cost, size, weight and power (C-SWaP)