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 and Easytrak Lite have been designed to be mounted in a rack inside the Operations Room of a vessel.
The Portable and Alpha Portable have a splashproof command console (integral computer) which allows it to be used in operations from small boats, RIBs and from the quayside.
The Easytrak Alpha is ideally suited for small subsea vehicle operations or basic diver tracking.
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