Marport Signs Technology Licensing Agreement

This approach differs from conventional sonar imaging methods in that beam-forming is replaced by angle-of-arrival estimation. SARA-CAATI uses an angle-of-arrival estimation technique similar to interferometry, however, unlike interferometry, SFU's patent solves the problem of concurrent arrivals from multiple targets, hence it works in a multi-path environment. Marport plans to integrate SARA-CAATI technology into its recently announced Software Defined Sonar platform. The new system will be used on surface vessels, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) to transmit acoustic pulses (pings), receive their echoes, process the data and produce high-resolution 3D color images of the seafloor.

Applications for the new 3D sonar system include seabed surveys, submarine cable and pipe installation, offshore oil and gas exploration, underwater infrastructure inspection, subsea mine hunting, commercial fisheries and a wide variety of engineering and scientific studies.