The radio signals broadcast by orbiting GPS satellites reach all corners of the globe, but are brought to a halt at the water’s surface. While this is obviously problematic if you carry out most of your business beneath the seas, underwater vehicles can partially solve this problem by coming up to the surface every so often.

The trouble is, this increases the chances of detection when operating in hostile environments, and considering that enemies might jam the signal anyhow, it could be a dangerous exercise in futility.

So DARPA has enlisted the services of BAE Systems, along with not-for-profit research company Draper, to develop a system that will allow for GPS-like precision while underwater. The program is called the Positioning System for Deep Ocean Navigation (POSYDON) and, if all goes to plan, will allow the navy’s submersibles to remain concealed by the ocean while accurately navigating.

To achieve this, BAE is developing technology that makes use of long-range acoustic sources at fixed locations around the ocean. It has also been set the task of developing the necessary instruments for the vehicles to pick up and process these signals in order to find their way around.

In the same way that GPS receivers rely on the signals from multiple satellites to calculate a precise positon, the undersea vehicles would discern their location by ranging to the acoustic signals from several of the fixed underwater sources.

“BAE Systems has more than 40 years of experience developing underwater active and passive acoustic systems,” said Joshua Niedzwiecki, director of Sensor Processing and Exploitation at BAE Systems. “We’ll use this same technology to revolutionize undersea navigation for the POSYDON program, by selecting and demonstrating acoustic underwater GPS sources and corresponding small-form factor receivers.”

Source: BAE Systems

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The Mini-Ranger 2 Ultra-Short Baseline (USBL) vessel-based systems and Wideband Sub-Mini 6 (WSM 6) transponders have been acquired by Oceanscan following client demand for accurate and reliable underwater tracking technology to support their projects, especially in the growing offshore wind and shallow water hydrographic survey markets.

Compact, portable and quick to install, Mini-Ranger 2 offers a standard operating range of 995 meters, extendable up to 4,000 meters, and the ability to simultaneously track up to 10 subsea targets (e.g. divers, ROVs and structures) at very fast update rates. It is considered ideal for nearshore operations being run from vessels of opportunity and for construction barges that need survey grade positioning performance, without the cost and complexity of a deep water USBL system.

Oceanscan’s new Mini-Ranger 2 systems are likely to be employed tracking remote operated vehicles (ROVs), side scan sonars and magnetometers for use in offshore wind construction, including unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey and debris clearance.

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The order for multiple Mini-Ranger 2 Ultra-Short BaseLine (USBL) systems and Wideband Sub-Mini 6 Plus (WSM 6+) transponders will be added to TES’ existing hire pool of Sonardyne equipment and used to support offshore survey and construction projects across the region.

When it was introduced in April, Mini-Ranger 2 became Sonardyne’s smallest and lightest 6G (sixth generation) underwater target tracking system. It boasts an operating range of 2,000 metres and is optimised to precisely track 10 underwater targets in shallow water and at high elevations. These features make it ideal for users who need survey grade positioning without the cost and complexity of a deep water USBL solution, benefits TES has been quick to recognize.

Their clients regularly carry out short surveys using divers, ROVs and AUVs working close to shore from vessels of opportunity. Equipment portability, ease of setup and high performance are therefore important considerations when hiring underwater technology for a project, all of which feature as standard with Mini-Ranger 2.

The decision to add Sonardyne’s WSM 6+ to its rental pool was also a considered one for TES. Supporting two-way Wideband and Wideband 2 signal protocols for very fast position updates, the WSM 6+ was identified as delivering superior ranging accuracy and immunity to noise. Together with its re-designed transducer guard that offers more impact protection, the new WSM 6+ transponder/responder is expected to be as popular as the out-going WSM 6 it replaces.

Susan Murray, Managing Director at TES said, “Utilization rates for our stock of 6G equipment are consistently high, so the decision to invest further was a straightforward one. We see the introduction of Mini-Ranger 2 as particularly significant for our business as it bridges the gap between low cost, low performance USBLs and complex, deep water systems. We’re not expecting it to be sitting on our shelves for very long.”

Commenting for Sonardyne, Graeme Buchanan, Sales Manager in Singapore said, “TES has claimed a significant first by being the first rental company to order both Mini-Ranger 2 and WSM 6+. Reducing risk and saving time is on everyone’s minds at the moment so in the months ahead, we’re looking forward to seeing how our new 6G products are helping the industry to achieve these goals.

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Designed to enable underwater positioning in a wide new range of marine technology applications, this system is priced at $4,800, half the cost of existing underwater positioning systems.The Underwater GPS Developer Kit is available for order with the first deliveries expected in June 2017.

California-based Blue Robotics is the first partner to integrate the Water Linked Underwater GPS system with its remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs). “Our new system has the potential to revolutionize performance in the ROV market,” said Oliver Skisland, CEO of Water Linked.

“Blue Robotics is an exciting partner for us to work with,” Skisland said. “They have an advanced customer base, as well as a strong position both as a technology supplier and ROV manufacturer.”

Rustom Jehangir, CEO of Blue Robotics, said, “We expect that Water Linked’s Underwater GPS solution will change the way that ROVs are used. With accurate underwater position information and moving-map navigation displays, we can revolutionize ROV-based inspection, exploration, search and rescue, and other applications.”

Water Linked’s Underwater GPS system is designed to operate in challenging environments such as shallow water within ports or fish cages for aquaculture, environments where existing conventional underwater positioning systems break down.

While the development of GPS and communication technology has been a key enabler for a wide variety of above-water innovations in the past decade, both have been limited below the ocean surface. Water Linked’s new technology will open several possibilities, including the Underwater GPS system and, in the future, underwater wireless communication.

Both Water Linked and Blue Robotics will be present at the Ocean Business 2017 conference in Southampton, U.K. this week to launch the partnership.

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