# Sonar with Linux API

**URL:** <https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/sonar-with-linux-api/1160>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [June 9, 2017, 4:43am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/sonar-with-linux-api/1160 "2017-06-09T04:43:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jakkala-kalvik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@jakkala-kalvik](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/jakkala-kalvik)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:43am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/sonar-with-linux-api/1160/1 "2017-06-09T04:43:57Z")

</div>

Hi, I want to use a sonar sensor on an AUV with a Nvidia Jetson TX1 onboard. So, are there any sonars which have APIs for linux. I want to use it for object avoidance.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jwalser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/jwalser/32/2234_2.png) [@jwalser](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/jwalser)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/sonar-with-linux-api/1160/2 "2017-06-10T03:13:56Z")

</div>

@jakkala-kalvik, I am not aware of a sonar with an API, but this isn’t my area of expertise. I haven’t dealt with sonars on the market (yet!). Perhaps some of our members with experience with different models and manufacturers can lend some more insight.

-Jacob

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kevink](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/kevink/32/686_2.png) [@kevink](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/kevink)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 4:11am UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/sonar-with-linux-api/1160/3 "2017-06-10T04:11:23Z")

</div>

Nothing that I know of. All the commercial sonars I know of are pretty closed source and use proprietary software. Most of the commercial sounders can also output NMEA position and depth sentences off a dedicated port so you may be able to use that somehow.

Here’s some resources:  
[http://opensonar.net/](http://opensonar.net/)

> **[GitHub - BenthicSubstrateMapping/PyHum: Python code to read, display, export...](https://github.com/BenthicSubstrateMapping/PyHum)**
>
> Python code to read, display, export and analyse Humminbird sidescan sonar data - GitHub - BenthicSubstrateMapping/PyHum: Python code to read, display, export and analyse Humminbird sidescan sonar ...

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![paul-unterweiser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discuss.bluerobotics.com/paul-unterweiser/32/697_2.png) [@paul-unterweiser](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/paul-unterweiser)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 12:51pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/sonar-with-linux-api/1160/4 "2017-06-10T12:51:56Z")

</div>

I’m not aware of any sonars that specifically support Linux, but if memory serves me correctly, the software that comes with the Imagenex 852 will run under WINE and the data format is available if you want to post process. Contact Imagenex for more details.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jakkala-kalvik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@jakkala-kalvik](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/u/jakkala-kalvik)\
**Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://discuss.bluerobotics.com/t/sonar-with-linux-api/1160/5 "2017-06-12T13:11:40Z")

</div>

I guess I will look into Imagenex thanks.