Category: Press Release
Briggs Marine, a market leading provider of marine and environmental services, will provide their vessel, Solent Guardian, which will be mobilised with applied acoustics INS + USBL positioning system, Pyxis, at Ocean Business from 18th – 20th April 2023. aae technologies will be hosting demonstrations aboard the Solent Guardian for the duration of the event.
Briggs and aae will also be joined by Klein – A MIND Technology Business, who will host their official launch of the 4K-UHR side scan sonar at the Ocean Business event, and will also be providing demonstrations onboard the Solent Guardian. The Klein 4K-UHR is designed specifically to excel in Ultra-High-Resolution surveys with improved range performance and motion tolerance, produces MHz-type resolution without sacrificing range performance and offers High and Ultra-High Resolution simultaneous modes of operation with optimized range and resolution dependent configurations.
Together, the companies will collaborate to showcase the latest products and capabilities, bringing together industry experts, Project Managers and Technical Authorities all on the hunt for the products and innovations that are leading the way in the ocean technology sector.
aae technologies will be using the Solent Guardian to run demonstrations of its integrated INS + USBL positioning system, Pyxis. Building on decades of in-house experience in subsea acoustics, Pyxis takes the best of the company’s subsea acoustic tracking technology and combines it with a highly advanced MEMS-based inertial navigation system (INS) from SBG Systems. As a fully integrated, factory fitted package, Pyxis is a portable, calibration-free USBL system able to operate immediately from a vessel of opportunity or as a permanent installation, providing major advantages in accuracy and performance, as well as time and cost savings.
Briggs Marine’s five ‘Guardian’ class’ survey vessels are the ideal platforms for carrying out a wide range of nearshore and coastal survey activities. Coded to MCA Category 2 and capable of carrying up to 12 passengers, the vessels can be mobilised anywhere in the UK or further afield if necessary. Vessels are available for short or long term charter and are well proven for delivery of hydrographic, environmental, geophysical and oceanographic surveys.
Gavin Willoughby, Business Development Manager at aae technologies comments: “Ocean Business is an important show for us. It’s very hands-on and provides us with the opportunity to host dedicated vessel demonstrations in partnership with other world-class providers such as Klein and Briggs Marine. We’re looking forward to showing the capabilities of our products to new and existing clients once again.”
With omni-directional and directional transceiver options, the versatility of Pyxis makes it ideal for a wide variety of applications; from shallow water diver tracking to deeper water ROV/ AUV positioning, and towed sensor arrays such as side-scan sonars and magnetometers.
To read more about what you can expect to see at Ocean Business, check out our latest blog.
applied acoustics, an aae technologies group company, has signed a major contract for the supply of multiple units of its next-generation military USBL subsea tracking system. The MIPS 2 system is the latest addition to the range of acoustic sub-systems designed for defence applications, with many of those systems finding use in mine countermeasure (MCM) operations. While details of the contract are undisclosed, the order marks a significant milestone for the UK headquartered company as it represents its 300th USBL system assigned to military service.
The second generation of Mobile Integrated Positioning System (MIPS 2) adds to the family of advanced Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) underwater tracking systems designed and manufactured by applied acoustics, and has been designed for integration onboard both autonomous and crewed surface vessels. The highly accurate transceivers are available in two formats, offering hemispherical and directional acoustic footprints for advanced subsea positioning requirements across a variety of naval platforms and environments.
Speaking from the company’s UK HQ, Business Development Manager Gavin Willoughby commented, “Although we have a long and successful history in providing advanced equipment to the maritime defence industry, the importance of this contract cannot be underestimated as it highlights the continued confidence shown in applied acoustics both as a qualified defence contractor and an innovator in the field of underwater acoustics. We’re extremely proud to be recognised as a significant stakeholder in this arena”.
applied acoustics, an aae technologies group company, has reached an agreement with global subsea equipment rental specialist Seatronics, an Acteon company, to strengthen their USBL capability through the addition of aae’s Pyxis INS + USBL system to the Seatronics inventory. Finalised during Oceanology International in London, the deal recognises Seatronics as the first rental outlet to offer the Pyxis INS + USBL and cements a long running collaboration between the two companies.
As its name suggests, Pyxis INS + USBL is a closely coupled and fully integrated positioning system, taking aae’s high end and globally proven USBL technology and combining it with an industry leading INS package to create a calibration free USBL system capable of generating exceptional subsea tracking data. Featuring common interrogate frequencies, MiQ data telemetry and 16 target tracking, the Pyxis system lends itself to many offshore applications, with UXO surveys perhaps being the most notable.
Speaking from the OI conference, Paul Griffiths, aae’s Business Development Manager for acoustic positioning systems commented “This is a very exciting time for us to be launching our new Pyxis USBL + INS system into the market. I am delighted that Seatronics have added our new system to their portfolio of equipment which will enable their customers to use our most accurate USBL system we have manufactured to date!”
As a calibration free system, Pyxis INS + USBL is highly portable and able to immediately operate from any vessel as soon as the work site has been reached. The MEMS based INS does not fall under ITAR regulations, and the range restricted option means the whole system can be shipped unhindered and without export control to almost anywhere in the world. A feature of the Pyxis system is the ability for the operator to deactivate the range restriction in the field under an export-controlled regime.
Derek Donaldson, Acteon – Electronics & Tooling, Segment Managing Director added, “We are a client led business and our increasingly diverse customer base firmly believe there is great potential for the Pyxis system across a number of market segments, I’m looking forward to adding this solution to our rental fleet and expanding the range of solutions we can offer our customers whilst enhancing the flexibility of service provided by Seatronics.”
Seatronics is an Acteon Group company. Acteon is a global marine technology specialist trusted to provide bespoke remote access, inspection and survey construction support to subsea assets. Acteon’s capabilities include custom sensor solutions; subsea electronics equipment rental; service repairs and calibration support; lightweight observation remotely operated vehicles (ROV); and ROV tooling, all built in partnership with key equipment manufacturers. Acteon’s rental fleet includes more than 6,000 assets in four dedicated bases around the world.
applied acoustic engineering is an independent designer and manufacturer of highly regarded subsea electronic-acoustic products, and a founding member of the aae technologies group of companies. Founded in 1989, the company has an established international client base covering many industry sectors, backed up by overseas offices and service centers and supported by a dedicated global distributor network.
For more information on the Pyxis INS + USBL system, click here.
German ROV manufacturer Mariscope Meerestechnik’s recent delivery of an applied acoustics Alpha USBL system marks a significant milestone in their partnership with applied acoustics and the aae technologies group, as it’s the 25th such system that Mariscope have acquired for integration into their renowned range of subsea vehicles.
Established in 1994 by Christian Haag, Mariscope has become a leading name in the field of ocean robotics and like aae technologies, proudly promotes its independence and flexibility. In a relationship spanning several years, aae technologies and Mariscope have developed a good understanding of each other’s businesses, enabling the continual and seamless supply of appropriate USBL systems for Mariscope’s engineers to incorporate into the ROV’s at factory level.
The bulk of these systems have been shipped to Mariscope’s South American subsidiary, Mariscope Ingenieria based in Puerto Montt, Chile, in support of the region’s burgeoning aquaculture industry, an industry that relies heavily on ROV intervention for the inspection and cleaning of salmon enclosures and their mooring lines. USBL tracking is a critical feature of these inspections as it gives the operators and service providers real-time positional data of the vehicles as they carry out their surveillance.
With Chile being the second largest producer of salmon in the world, the Chilean Government is constantly updating its regulations and environmental standards, including a shortening of the time intervals between inspections and a requirement to log accurate positional records showing the areas of ROV inspections. It’s in this area where Mariscope are perfectly placed to lead the way in servicing this industry, technologically and geographically.
Speaking from aae technologies UK headquarters, Business Development Manager Gavin Willoughby commented, “I’m delighted that we’re continually able to support Christian and the Mariscope team with their work in South America. I’ve witnessed first-hand Mariscope’s operation in Chile, and have seen the quality of service and support given to the local industry, something that aligns perfectly with our own culture. I’m very proud that we continue to be a part of the Mariscope success story, and I look forward to many more years of successful cooperation”.
