Has anyone used the Surveyor 240-16 on a BlueROV2?

Blue Robotics Vehicles BlueROV2 Heavy
1

Hi everyone,

We’re considering mounting a Cerulean Surveyor 240-16 on our BlueROV2 for bathymetric surveys.

We already use a side-scan sonar on our BlueROV2. Looking at the installation guide, the setup appears similar. Has anyone actually mounted and used the Surveyor on a BlueROV2?

Any firsthand experience or photos of your setup would be appreciated. Thanks!

2

Hi @nowtwind13 -
There are some major barriers to using the Surveyor Multibeam on an ROV!
The primary issue is localization - the surveyor relies on the vehicle autopilot to provide position - which an ROV does not know unless it has a GPS and is at the surface, or is using acoustic localization! Even with these methods implemented, the accuracy is not going to be as good as the BlueBoat GPS, which is farther above the water.

I’m also not sure if SonarView would handle depth changes of the vehicle, and their impact on the ranges measured?

Generally, surveying the bottom with an ROV is akin to cleaning a floor with a toothbrush - it’s just not well suited for the task! Typically ROVs use imaging multibeams, rather than echosounders, as operators try to find targets at range. If mounted horizontally, the echosounder only provides ~16 points per ping, vs the many more channels present on units like the Sonoptix Echo.

Can you share your motivations to accomplish bathymetric surveys with an ROV rather than a surface vessel like the BlueBoat?

3

We would like to measure water depths along harbor quays to monitor sediment buildup in areas where vessels enter and leave.

We already have an ROV, as well as DVL and SBL systems, and Surveyor seemed to be a suitable option for conducting depth surveys from the surface.

Our intended use is to survey water depths over a wide area rather than to detect specific targets.

4

Hi @nowtwind13 -
I’d recommend reaching out to Cerulean Sonar to discuss your application- some modification to sonar view may be required to use the sooner on a BlueROV2! Handling the depth of the ROV may be necessary, assuming you’d like to measure depth relative to the water surface.