GOSL SQX-1 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)

GOSL is taking delivery of a Marport SQX-1 Autonomous Underwater Vehicle capable of operating to 500 metres water depth (will be upgraded to 3000 metres in November 2010).

The SQX-1 is a compact, lightweight AUV, developed by Marport Deep Sea Technology and the Institute of Ocean Technology of St. Johns Newfoundland. It is designed for search and survey applications in waters up to 500 metres in depth. The primary and unique features of the SQX-1 AUV include extremely good stability for superior sensor payload performance, zero-turning radius, high manoeuverability and the ability to hover while providing close-up or detailed inspection of debris, wellheads and platforms.

Survey lines and sensor settings can be pre-programmed into the AUV. Lines can be aborted and the survey program can be altered via the acoustic telemetry link while the survey is underway. Most of the settings for the survey sensors can also be remotely controlled via the link.

Multibeam, sidescan, sub-bottom and positioning data are recorded in the AUV. Data from these sensors is transmitted from the AUV to the ship. This allows real time quality assurance of the data and feedback on the bottom conditions.

The SQX-1 AUV can be used for the following: Hydrographic Surveys, Harbor Security, Ship Hull Inspections, Search and Salvage Operations, Hazard Surveys, Pipeline Route Surveys, Pipeline Inspection, Wellhead Inspection, Platform and Riser Inspection, Underwater Video and Photographic Surveys, Subsea Pipeline Leak Detection using an installed Methane Sniffer.

GOSLs SQX-1 AUV has a payload with the following sensors: Marport 3D bathymetric sonar (Aquapix), Klein 3000 Side Scan Sonar, Marport Sub-bottom Profiler (Caruso SF7), Marport Command View Auto-track module, Seebyte Pipeline AutoTracker Software, Remote Ocean Systems Colour Video Camera and Integral LED Light, Methane Sniffer.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• GOSL
• SQX-1
• AUV
• Marport
• hydrography
• survey
• bathymetry
• sonar
• autonomous