Danish Navy Commits to Easytrak Duo
The Royal Navy of Denmark has ordered two Applied Acoustics’ Easytrak USBL underwater tracking systems for two different applications. The first for use in mine clearance operations in coastal waters and the second for deeper water oceanographic research.
The requirements were outlined at the UDT conference in Hamburg in June 2006. At subsequent trials and demonstrations in the harbour at Esbjerg and at a military facility close to the city, AAE’s Portable unit was chosen. The deciding factor was Easytrak’s ability to provide accurate and stable tracking of divers in very shallow water, which is where the Navy’s diving team would be carrying out the bulk of their mine clearance operations. The harbour trial also allowed the NMC to witness the successful operation of Easytrak in an acoustically difficult environment. With the Navy’s further criteria of rapid deployment and ease of use being met, Easytrak was ordered along with a number of AAE’s 219 Micro Beacons, and a 919 Mini Beacon for use with the team’s ROV.
The second Easytrak system is intended for used on the high profile Danish Galathea 3 research expedition. A modified naval inspection vessel is undertaking a 9 month voyage to re-create the expedition. Aboard a host of research scientists and university students will undertake projects concerning climate and environment, culture and history, biology and geology. As part of their research the oceanographers need to track some of the underwater equipment in order to identify its precise location. Typical uses would include charting the path of instruments collecting data about long-term ocean temperature changes and climate variability. The Easytrak Lite version was selected for such applications as it is designed to operate through a laptop PC located inside one of the dry laboratories on board.
