iXBlue Announces GAPS USBL Including Wireless Data Communication

Gaps USBL now features a wireless data communication link for subsea vehicles and remote monitoring applications. Gaps is able to simultaneously perform tracking and data communication without compromising on Gaps’ performance levels. Using its own iXblue wide-band telemetry modulation, which is robust even in adverse conditions, Gaps and beacons have a half-duplex acoustic communication link capable of up to 160 bits per recurrence.

The acoustic communication link is open for any user application. Users can implement the acoustic link for their own subsea communication needs.

A decade ago Gaps USBL integrated an INS (Inertial Navigation System), Phins, into an acoustic system for the first time ever. Gaps has since earned an enviable reputation in the most difficult use cases where existing solutions generally proved deficient.

Main benefits of Gaps USBL including Telemetry:

• Control/Command your AUV: Gaps enables simultaneous tracking and acoustic coms without the need to install a dedicated modem transducer on the AUV or on the surface vessel. You can now track, send commands and receive AUV status, all with the same equipment.
• Wirelessly send a position to recalibrate an INS in an UUV: For AUV and ROV applications, GAPS enables a position to be sent wirelessly to a subsea INS:
  • Gaps estimates the position of the beacon (USBL)
  • Gaps sends its position to the beacon
  • The beacon broadcasts the position to the subsea INS

• Collect data from any subsea sensor: Any sensor can be interfaced to a subsea beacon. The beacon broadcasts the measurements to the GAPS through the acoustic channel. GAPS outputs the information on serial or Ethernet communication port.

The innovation is available on the iXblue stand H9 at Ocean Business or on the iXblue Gaps webpage.