Category: Updates
Applied Acoustic Engineering is launching its latest Beacons at Oceanology International. The new range, the 1000 Series, is a more electronically sophisticated product with improved reliability. Clever engineering design has also made the new product simpler to use. The Channel Selector switches have gone and in their place is digital control from an external Smart Switch.
The palm sized Smart Switch, with direct connection to the beacon, is packed full of useful electronic circuitry enabling the device to perform a multitude of important tasks in addition to transponder configuration. These include battery diagnostics, trickle charge/fast charge monitoring & control, and depth telemetry selection. Easy to use, the small device provides a smooth and efficient set-up and provides valuable operational information on the clear LCD screen. The
new 1000 Series can also be configured direct from a PC.
“Using our years of experience and useful feedback from our customers we knew exactly what was required when we started designing this product, “ said Neil MacDonald AAE’s Technical Manager, “so we’ve perfected the set-up function and provided the operators with really useful data – just what they need in the field. Even the firmware can be updated remotely via the internet.
“This is an extension to our product range, a means by which we can cater for all tastes, as the 900 Series of beacons will retain their strong role in our product portfolio.” he added.
The addition of a standard 5-pin bulkhead connector, offering pin-for-pin compatibility, improves the versatility and worldwide appeal of the product.
“This is a important new product for the company, ”said Gavin Willoughby, Sales Manager. “The quality of our products and our engineering excellence is recognised across the globe, so Oceanology International will provide us with the perfect platform to let our customers know about this exciting development.”
Such is the enthusiasm for Applied Acoustics’ Easytrak USBL Tracking System, that three organisations have recently added extra systems to their initial investment.The customers involved have been using Easytrak in a variety of applications showing how truly versatile and valuable the product has proved to be.
GSE Rentals in Aberdeen, UK, now have two Easytrak systems in their rental fleet. “We found the one unit we had was in constant demand both to our customers in the North Sea and further afield, so it was an easy decision to double up.” said Alan Cameron, Engineering Manager of GSE Rentals.
A similar endorsement was received from Gardline Environmental, based in Great Yarmouth, UK, who found the accuracy and reliability of Easytrak during subsea survey tasks crucial to operational success and cost-effectiveness. Gardline’s second and third systems were delivered at the end of 2007.
The third customer ordering again is the Royal Danish Navy, who use Easytrak in their specialist diving and mine counter measure operations. The Navy will take delivery of their third unit during the first quarter of 2008.
“We’re particularly pleased that the global customer base for this product continues to expand,” said Gavin Willoughby, AAE’s Sales Manager, “but what’s equally satisfying is the knowledge that Easytrak is fulfilling a number of key roles within individual organisations, which breeds confidence in the system, resulting in a number of repeat orders.”
Software enhancements to Applied Acoustics’ Easytrak subsea tracking system will make their debut on stand 409 at UI in New Orleans. The new sophisticated package complements the software already in the main console by providing an additional display on an external PC via Ethernet.
The intuitive software also allows the user to resize or rescale the vessel graphic, utilize a measurement tool and customise the workspace.
The innovative USBL tracking system, Easytrak, is manufactured in the UK by Applied Acoustic Engineering and sold in the US by Subsea Technologies of Houston.
Applied Acoustics has recently announced the sale of its 50th Easytrak subsea tracking system at Offshore Europe, Aberdeen. The system is one of a pair that has been ordered by CaspianLab in Azerbaijan for use in their operations in the Caspian Sea.The first Easytraks were delivered in June 2005, with NIWA, the New Zealand based oceanographic institute, one of the first to recognise the benefits of the Easytrak system. Since then other units have been purchased by international survey companies such as Fugro and Gardline for user in the Gulf of Mexico, West Africa, SE Asia and the North Sea. Further users include police authorities, marine project engineering firms as well as a number of European Navies.
Easytrak is a compact, portable Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) tracking system that uses a multi-element single transducer to send and receive acoustic signals to and from multiple underwater targets from which range, bearing and depth information can be determined.
“We designed Easytrak not just to be reliable but specifically to be user-friendly and uncomplicated, even for a relatively inexperienced user,” explained Gavin Willoughby, Sales Manager, “So we’re pleased that it is proving its worth in so many diverse situations and different applications, including successfully tracking floating targets.” he added.
Seatronics, one of the offshore industry’s leading rental companies, prides itself on offering its many clients the latest technology from leading manufacturers. This strategy has seen them make a significant investment in further equipment from Applied Acoustic Engineering (AAE) to expand the sub-bottom profiling stock available from their Abu Dhabi operation.
The additional CSP1500 and AA300 boomer plate system has been immediately used on a pipeline route survey between Qatar and the UAE and is already earmarked for other engineering surveys offshore UAE and Oman.
“The AAE equipment is our system of choice, particularly for shallow water Boomer/Sparker applications, because of its ease of use, high performance and reliability, coupled with its universal acceptance by the industry worldwide.” says Seatronics’ Director Graeme Ross, based in Aberdeen.
We know that the many AAE systems available for rent from our bases in Aberdeen, Gt.Yarmouth, Houston, New Iberia, Abu Dhabi and Singapore will provide us with a rental asset with good price/performance ratios because we are confident in the system’s reliability and the first class technical support from AAE.” he adds.
Applied Acoustic Engineering offers both Boomer Plate and Sparker Assembly sound sources as well as a variety of CSP seismic energy sources, so the optimum package can be tailored to the application.
Following on from their success supplying Easytrak underwater tracking systems to both the UK Royal Navy and Royal Danish Navy, Applied Acoustics announce a similar order for two Easytrak systems for the Estonian Navy, to be used in their mine counter measure operations.
The militarised version of the Easytrak Lite will be used by the Estonians with Ultra Electronics’ Seafox mine disposal system, an expendable remotely operated underwater vehicle containing an explosive warhead designed to neutralise the mine. Easytrak, along with the vehicle’s own on board sonar, will guide Seafox to the target.
Easytrak is an Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) tracking system that uses a multi-element single transducer to send and receive acoustic signals to and from multiple underwater targets from which range, bearing and depth information can be determined. Available as both a specialist militarised product or a commercial off the shelf system, Easytrak is acclaimed for accuracy and stability during a multitude of subsea tracking tasks in which divers, ROV’s or AUV’s are involved
Applied Acoustic Engineering proudly announce the launch of their new range of CSP Seismic Energy Sources, the latest in a long line of products from the company constantly setting new industry standards for performance. Developed with their vast experience and taking advantage of new improved technologies, the CSP-D range is set to become the benchmark ‘workhorse’ seismic power supply.
Along with an increased energy output, the innovative feature of the CSP-D is its unique dual voltage output, giving the product extra versatility. By adjusting the output, switchable on the front panel, better penetration can be achieved from the boomer plate sound source, a feature previously only obtainable to the same extent with sparker assemblies.
The other notable feature of the CSP-D (as with some other units from AAE) is the incorporation of a special ‘slow-start’ feature. This is a means of gradually increasing power output to ease the load on the sound source, so helping to avoid any potential interference with marine mammals.
The new CSP-D is available with a charging rate of 1500 J/second in three variants producing up to 700J, 1200J or 2400J per shot respectively.