The first scheduled survey using the iXSea solution is taking place in the Northern Pacific for a deep-sea survey of mineral resources.
Yuzhmorgeologia’s need for better accuracy of seafloor mapping at great depths required better positioning of the Ultra Deep Mak-1.
The iXSea solution will allow precise positioning of the sonar towed by an 11,000m long cable. It includes Posidonia USBL, Octans III attitude sensor, PHINS Inertial Navigation System and several Oceano acoustic releases.
Posidonia is an Ultra Short BaseLine (USBL) acoustic positioning system which provides unique accurate positioning as a result of its CHIRP and FM modulation techniques.
Capable of tracking positioning systems at 6,000m depths, Posidonia holds the world record in slant range of 9,680m and guarantees high performance even in harsh environmental conditions, according to iXSea.
The Octans III which will be mounted on board is an accurate motion sensor which outputs true heading, roll, pitch, heave, surge and sway as well as acceleration and rate of turn. It is also an IMO-certified gyrocompass and attitude sensor, still the smallest of its class in the world, and is maintenance-free thanks to its strapdown technology.
PHINS, the first Photonic Inertial Navigation System based on FOG unique strapdown technology, has an inertial heart based on Fibre-Optic Gyroscopes. PHINS outputs position, roll, pitch, depth, velocity, heave and heading to a very high level of accuracy will greatly assist in the precise positioning at 6,000m depth the Ultra Deep Mak-1 sidescan sonar.
Other equipment purchased includes iXSea’s acoustic releases.
While the Yuzhmorgeologia vessel was dry-docked in Santiago-de-Chile for system installation and other operations, iXSea and Yuzhmorgeologia engineers successfully tested the installed solution.
The iXSea solution for improved accuracy of seafloor mapping at great depths can be adapted to different types of towed vehicles. iXSea also provides sonars and SBPs upgrade solutions including Delph Sonar and Delph seismic data acquisition and processing system.
