Deep-sea Sonar System for Fraunhofer
Kraken Sonar Systems (Canada) has delivered a deep-sea-rated Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Sonar (INSAS) system to Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Exploitation (IOSB). The DeDAvE AUV has been under development from 2013-2015 to create a versatile and compact vehicle that is easier to handle than existing systems while providing more space for payloads and fast turnaround times. DeDAvE is able to operate in ocean depths of 6,000 metres.
DeDAvE is equipped with an up-to-date sensor suite, easily exchangeable battery and data storage modules and a distributed control infrastructure. This allows to adapt the AUV to very different mission tasks, to integrate additional actuators (like bow dive planes or thrusters) and to add more battery capacity (into the payload area).
The modular design of the DeDAvE AUV creates a family of AUVs for different diving depths, mission durations and payload requirements. The DeDAvE AUV consists of a number of individual sections that hold the different vehicle components. The bow section contains the obstacle avoidance sensors, one emergency weight drop system and the (optional) diving plane. By default, two energy sections with eight battery modules are located near bow and stern. The control and navigation section houses the control computer, the inertial navigation system, an acoustic modem with USBL function, the emergency and communication unit (with backup battery) and a sound velocity sensor. The AUV can handle payload interfaces like Ethernet, serial port or CAN bus.
Fraunhofer is the leading organisation for applied research in Europe. Under the terms of the contract, Kraken has successfully designed, engineered and delivered a 6,000m depth-rated AquaPix MINSAS sonar system that will be integrated into Fraunhofer IOSB’s DeDAvE programme.
Maritime technologies will play a crucial economic and scientific role in the future. Fraunhofer and Kraken share the same ideals of using the latest technologies to enhance deep-sea exploration and inspection operations, according to Karl Kenny, Kraken’s president and CEO.
Image: Fraunhofer IOSB’s DeDAvE Autonomous Underwater Vehicle.
