We have some exciting new functionality for our ROVL Mk II auto Sync product.
Mk II units equipped with Autosync can operate on one of two different channels (called “Channel A” and “Channel B”), which allows two ROVL systems to operate in proximity without interfering with each other. The channel setting is persisted in non-volatile memory for both transmitters and receivers. The system can be set up so one receiver can switch back and forth between monitoring two transmitters, or two receivers can each monitor their transmitter. This feature does not degrade the normal 1 Hz update rate.
Additionally, Mk II Autosync units can now be set to receive on both ROVL channels simultaneously, allowing you to simultaneously track up to two transmitters. The CeruleanTracker application provides an option to select which channel is to be the “active” channel. The active channel is used for the combined ROVL/DVL ROV position solution and/or the unfiltered ROVL position. Messages received from the NOT active channel are sent to the Cerulean Map application to be displayed as a secondary item so that the map can display the position of both ROVs at once.
Some example usage scenarios for units in proximity:
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Two ROVs, each with an ROV transmitter, operating side-by-side with two operators, each able to see their own ROV’s position (no user software development is needed for this).
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One ROV with a transmitter, one diver with a transmitter, and an operator who can select which one to monitor, or simultaneous position display of the ROV and diver.
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An untethered ROV with an ROVL receiver and transmitter both installed. The ROV could use its receiver to navigate to home (or other location where the transmitter is sited), and the topside crew could monitor the position of the ROV using their own receiver (some user software development is needed for ROV guidance).
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A tethered ROV in a challenging magnetic environment could have both an ROVL transmitter and an ROVL receiver installed. The topside station could monitor the position of the ROV. The ROV could send relative tracking angles and pitch/roll from its receiver back to the topside station through the tether. With these pieces of information, the topside station would be able to compute the heading of the ROV as well as its position, allowing navigation even without an ROV-mounted compass (some user software development needed for fusing the outputs of the two systems and converting them to a heading).
