New Kongsberg acoustic positioning system
Norway’s Kongsberg Maritime has extended its range of acoustic positioning systems with introduction of µPAP, a compact and portable unit for operation from surface vessels to track ROVs, tow fish, divers and other subsea targets at depths down to 4,000m. Operating in either SSBL (super short baseline) or LBL (long baseline) modes, it measures distance and direction to subsea transponders while computing 3D position in local or geographical coordinates.
The company claims that while ensuring high accuracy, the system is smaller, more compact and easier to install on surface craft than larger comparable assemblies. Its transducer is available in several versions featuring different built-in motion sensors and physical size. A diverse range of applications includes aquaculture, seabed and shallow water surveys, marine research, diving and ROV operations, underwater construction and salt to fresh water production. Kongsberg adds that the system can also be used as a two-way modem for transferring data between a surface user computer and one or more underwater units.
By David Goodfellow
