Opérationnels: ECA Group demonstrates successfully during sea trials its towed side scan sonar syste

Published on Opérationnels, May 2017

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The Towed Side Scan Sonar System TOWSCA developed by ECA Group equips its USV Inspector with improved shallow to deep water survey capability.

ECA Group got its qualification during sea trials for its new Towed Side Scan Sonar: TOWSCA.

Fitted on the aft deck of the Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) INSPECTOR Mk2, the mid-size towed side scan sonar is deployed by a LARS (launch and recovery) system which capability is up to 100m depth.

TOWSCA has successfully completed the sea trials during the first quarter of 2017 after being tested in various situations (speed, depth). It complies with operations in harsh environment of sea state 3 and above.

This solution is designed to be fully remotely monitored from ground workstation through the USV radio link. It can accommodate various mid-size TSSS (Towed side scan sonar) to provide very accurate seafloor images.

The Launch and Recovery system is equipped with an auto altitude mode and automatic obstacle avoidance device. Using internal sensors coupled with Ultra Short Base Line (USBL) positioning system, the Towed Side Scan Sonar is real-time 3D positioned and sonar data geolocalized and time stamped.

Fitted with TOWSCA, on its aft deck and hull sonar on its bow mast, the USV INSPECTOR Mk2 has shallow and deep water survey capabilities This compact USV able to gather and transmit in real-time 2D or 3D images from seafloor at speed over 10kts.

The compatcness of USV INSPECTOR Mk2 enables to have it easily deployed from existing davit and be shipped by road, train and air.

Used with TOWSCA, this combination can run many tasks such as seafloor mine detection in Mine Counter Measure (MCM) missions, wreck or debris relocation in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations.

Learn More : ECA Group demonstrates successfully its Towed Side Scan Sonar System - TOWSCA solution