The larger vessel, alongside at Oceanology International, was QinetiQ's 90m long RV Triton, built by Vosper Thornycroft as a trimaran warship demonstrator and due for a mini refit next month which will enable it to demonstrate its potential as a hydrographic survey ship.

Taking up considerably less space inside the exhibition was Mimir, an Abovewater Autonomous Vehicle (AAV) named after a mythical figure whose head became a portable source of great knowledge.

Mimir is effectively a low-cost and flexible shallow water survey vessel.

Mimir's design allows it to be adapted to collect data for a wide variety of shallow water surveys, including those of rivers, estuaries reservoirs, ports and harbours, or littoral waters for dredging, archaeological or other marine purposes. A highly modular design allows Mimir to be easily reconfigured for any mission. Its chemical sensing, seabed and water sampling technologies enable it to conduct environmental as well as hydrographic surveys.

The EV1 model of Mimir has a tri-hull design, is powered by a 9hp single cylinder diesel engine and can work for more than 8 hours continuously. QinetiQ's integration of multiple, mobile data nodes with wireless data networks means that Mimir transmits data from its onboard nodes to either a mobile command centre or direct to a third party system via commercial telecommunications technology.

The primary sonar system on the EV1 model is an advanced SEA bathymetric sonar which produces both bathymetric and sidescan sonar data. Detailed survey data is held on board for later analysis while a wireless LAN communications link provides the shore or vessel-based operator with real-time sonar images, system health and tracking information.

In addition to the primary sensor, Mimir can be equipped with a variety of secondary sensing and sampling capabilities for abovewater, underwater and seabed data collection.

These include the measurement of nitrate/nitrite, phosphate, dissolved oxygen and CTD as well as underwater and abovewater video.

MJ Information No: 16821