Saildrone has given its unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) a new kind of “hearing,” letting them detect echoes from layers buried beneath the seabed.
The move is made possible by the Innomar Medium system, a high-resolution sub-bottom profiler (SBP) that produces full-waveform acoustic data to reveal the structure and composition of the seafloor and sub-seafloor.
It can operate at depths up to 250 meters (820 feet) and penetrate up to 70 meters (230 feet) below the seabed, depending on sediment type.
Recently, the system was deployed in the Baltic Sea aboard Saildrone’s Voyager USV to inspect infrastructure and survey the seabed conditions for the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation.
With the Innomar SBP, the Voyager can now capture high-resolution sub-seafloor imagery, map sediment layers, identify geological structures, and study subsurface stratigraphy.
This capability could improve coastal and shelf sediment survey missions and help naval forces detect potential anomalies or spot hidden cables and pipes.
‘92% Uptime’
Measuring 10 meters (33 feet) long, the Voyager USV is built for continuous operations above and below water.
It can run autonomously for months at a time, with no human crew needed onboard.
Saildrone’s proprietary wing design gives the vehicle extended range and resilience, allowing it to survey large areas like the Baltic Sea over long deployments.
The company reports that four Voyagers have been operating in the region for six straight months, maintaining 92 percent uptime even in challenging weather and sea conditions.
Support operations are run from Saildrone’s Copenhagen office, providing regional coverage across Northern Europe.
