A USBL system contains a minimum of 3 receive transducer elements housed within a single transducer and spaced close together so the ‘baseline’ between the elements is often a fraction of the wavelength, considered ‘Ultra Short’, hence the name Ultra Short Base Line or USBL.
Easytrak USBL systems use specific acoustic signals generated from the transducer and sent to a beacon attached to the target object. The beacon receives this signal and replies back with a different transmission. The measured two-way travel time allows computation of range, and the bearing is calculated from phase measurements of the signal returning to the USBL transducer. |
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Integral pitch and roll sensors correct for transducer movement. The target’s position is determined and displayed on an LCD monitor or output to a computer. Inputs allow for more accurate sensors such as gyros to be connected for higher positional accuracy. A further GPS input allows for latitude and longitude corrected co-ordinates of the target beacon or beacons.
The Easytrak Nexus can transmit and receive Spread Spectrum signals as well as traditional ‘tone-burst’ signals. Spread Spectrum signals operate over a wide bandwidth and provide performance advantages such as better range resolution and better rejection of multi-path (reflected) signals.
Easytrak has been designed with minimum system components.
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| The transducer is narrow enough to be deployed through a ship’s gate valve, or can be used in ‘over the side’ applications free hanging on its own cable, or fixed rigidly to a pole. |
The Easytrak Nexus has been designed to be mounted in a rack inside the Operations Room of a vessel.
The Portable has a splashproof command console which allows it to be used in operations from small boats, RIBs and from the quayside.
The Lite system requires connection to a separate PC, usually within a dry environment. |