High Resolution Survey for Deep Sea Applications
The SEARAPTOR™ is a survey grade deep water autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed to operate at abyssal depths. A wide range of sensors allow the SeaRaptor™ to complete several types of missions including broad area search with side-scan sonar, hydrographic survey with multibeam and sub bottom profiler, and high-resolution inspection survey with camera and acoustic sonar. These surveys support a variety of applications, such as search and recovery, salvage, exploration, construction support, marine archaeology, and oceanography.
The SeaRaptor AUV is depth rated to 3000m or 6000m.
Modularity - The vehicle offers several payload ports that provide serial communication, Ethernet, and power. These ports can be used for field swappable sensors. In addition, removable batteries and data storage enable rapid turn-around to maximize operating time.
Payload sensors
The vehicle can be customized to include other sensors in addition to the standard payload listed:
- Teledyne Benthos Sub bottom profiler (SBP)
- Teledyne RESON Multi-Beam Echo Sounder (MBES)
- EdgeTech dual frequency side scan sonar (SSS)
- CathX high resolution camera, laser scanning, and strobes
- Teledyne Rd Instruments Conductivity Temperature Depth sensor (CTD)
- Teledyne BlueView forward looking sonar for advanced obstacle avoidance
Emergency systems
The vehicle is equipped with multiple safety systems, providing improved redundancy by including multiple devices both for recovery underwater and on the surface.
- Acoustic pinger
- Acoustic drop weight release
- Satellite locator beacon
- Radio Frequency (RF) beacon
Navigation
The vehicle is equipped with all the necessary navigation sensors and support for acoustic aiding required for accurate deep-water navigation.
- Inertial navigation system (0.01% DT accuracy)
- Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) and depth sensor
- Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
- Positioning accuracy can be maintained over longer duration deployments by utilizing Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) or ranging to bottom-moored Long Baseline (LBL) transponders (optional)
Vehicle Software
The vehicle software is based on the proven software used on the Gavia AUV for over a decade. The mission planning software features a chart-based planning tool that allows the user to easily program a wide range of missions for the vehicle. The same software is used for operations, data retrieval, and post mission analysis.
Topside Equipment
The vehicle can be delivered with extensive topside equipment that aid in vehicle operations and recovery including:
- Containerized (ISO) storage and operation facility
- Ruggedized operation stations
- Industry standard launch and recovery system allowing safe recovery in high sea-state
Specifications
Technical Specifications
- Length ~5.5m
- Weight in air: ~1000 kg - 1200 kg (configuration dependent)
- Diameter: ~0.63m
- Depth rating: 3000m or 6000m
- Battery module: Standard 13kWh, Extended 16kWh
- Speed: > Nominal: 3 Knots, Maximum: 4 Knots
- Endurance: ~24 hrs at 3 Knots
- Range: Standard Capacity Battery): 130km @ 3 Knots with Side Scan Sonar
Communication
- Wireless LAN: IEEE 802.11g compliant
- Radio Frequency (RF): User selectable from 400kHz - 2.4GHz
- Satellite communications: Full global coverage via Iridium link
- Acoustic modem: For tracking and status updates, >10 km range)
- Strobe Light: For visibility at the surface
Applications
- Search and Recovery
- Salvage
- Exploration
- Construction Support
- Marine Archaeology
- Oceanography
