Sonardyne into a Class of its Own
Sonardyne
International Ltd., UK launched
its Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) at the Ocean Business Exhibition at Southampton
during April 14-16, 2015. Syrinx is Sonardyne’s first
Doppler Velocity Log (DVL).
 |
Sonardyne’s Syrinx DVL
|
This
is the latest addition to Sonardyne’s portfolio of acoustic devices. The
company claims it is the only organization to offer inertial navigation,
acoustic positioning, and DNV technologies at a single location.
Sonardyne
is a market leader in subsea inertial and acoustic navigation systems. A
product of major investment by the company aimed to build the industry’s best
600kHz DVL, Syrinx is the logical evolution of Sonardyne’s existing SPRINT and
6G product lines.
Syrinx
specifically addresses the needs of subsea and surface vessels needing high
integrity and high performance navigation-aiding over diverse seabed types and
water depths. A combination of numerous features makes it an ideal navigation
instrument for Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Autonomous Underwater
Vehicles (AUVs).
Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) & their Recent
Advances
Doppler
Velocity Logs (DVLs) have been used for over a decade now to collect and
provide navigation
data to ships, AUVs, ROVs, and human occupied vehicles (HOVs). Hitherto,
DVLs could be used only on large underwater platforms such as large AUVs,
work-class ROVs, and HOVs on account of their considerable sizes and weights.
|
Feature
|
Performance
|
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Operating Frequency
|
600Hz
|
|
Long Term Accuracy
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±0.1cm/s / ±0.2%
|
|
Standard Deviation:
@ 1m/s
@ 3m/s
@ 5m/s
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±0.2cm/s
±0.5cm/s
±0.6cm/s
|
|
Maximum Altitude
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140m
|
|
Minimum Altitude
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0.5m
|
|
Depth Rating
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3,000m, 4,000m, or
6,000m
|
|
Data Output Rates
(Max)
|
10Hz
|
|
Transit Power (Max)
|
218dB
|
|
Voltage Range
|
24V (±10%)
|
|
Communications
|
Concurrent RS232
& Ethernet
|
|
Internal Logging
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64GB Internal Memory
|
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Housing Material
|
Aluminum / Titanium
|
Recently
however sensor manufacturers have cut down the sizes and weights of commercial
off the shelf (COTS) DVLs to an extent that they can be installed and used
aboard mini-ROVs.
DVLs
typically use multiple transducers to measure velocity by employing water
column tracking or bottom tracking. The readings are then integrated to arrive
at relative displacements.
These
relative displacements are then placed within the broader context of real world
coordinate system through pitch, heading, and rolling sensors to calculate
absolute displacement in relation to the geographical coordinate system.
DVL
systems are a great way to create self contained navigation solutions to be
used as input data for subsea dynamic position control mechanisms or to be used
in confined access settings.
Syrinx Doppler Velocity Log (DVL): Technical &
Other Details
Syrinx
is available in 3,000m and 6,000m versions. For modern work-class ROVs,
Sonardyne offers a 4,000m version in titanium. Users can operate, configure,
and test the DVL while visualizing the data on account of an embedded web
server run by the unit.
 |
Highest In-class Precision by Combining 300kHz with 1,200kHz
|
Configuration
software is not necessary because Syrinx is connected and configured through a
web browser. Chief features
include:
·
Extremely Low Noise &
High Precision Velocity Measurements across Diverse Depths & Numerous Challenging
Seabed Types by employing the adaptive bottom lock in combination with full
linear signal processing
Plus,
Syrinx’s signal processing system can output data continuously at very high
rates when operating at very low altitudes of less than 1m. The device is
highly reliable, consistent and can navigate at high altitudes as a 300kHz DVL
can and provide high resolution performance as a 1,200kHz DVL can
·
Savings in Cost & Vehicle
Payload Space by virtue of its dual output capability. Syrinx can operate as
part of an integrated navigation system, as a standalone DVL, or as a
combination of both
Pilots
and survey teams can both share output from the Syrinx when it operates in the
dual mode through concurrent Ethernet and serial output capability at ping
rates of up to 10Hz. Only one DVL/altitude sensor is needed for the survey
crews and for ROV control
·
Rapid &
Cost-Effective Service & Repairs by having individually replaceable transducers
DVLs
are usually installed at the bottom-end of the vessel that makes transducers
vulnerable to damage. Repairs normally mean replacing the entire transducer
assembly even if only one transducer is damaged
 |
Reprocessing & Visualization of Data through Software
|
·
Simple Installation, Setup,
& Use as the Syrinx DVL can be fitted to the mounting brackets of existing
instruments. Syrinx supports the industry standard PD4 and PD5 telegrams for
smooth integration with navigation systems made by other manufacturers
Integrating
Syrinx DVL with Sonardyne’s SPRINT Inertial Navigation system (INS) provides
highest-quality DVL-aided navigation. The combination enables improved velocity
prediction and outlier rejection by optimizing the two-way communication
between these devices
Outlier
is a point of observation far off from other observations. For DVLs, detection
and rejection of such outlier observations drastically improves the accuracy of
data and therefore of navigation
Finally
Sonardyne’s clients can look forward to immense
commercial, technological, and support benefits with the company starting to
supply diverse automated navigation technology under one roof.
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