Equipment Review

SINAPSI – THE FUTURE OF EXPLORATION

FEATURE AHMED NABIL PHOTOGRAPHY SUEX

No matter what your objective underwater is: cave diving, search and rescue, underwater archaeology, science/ research, environmental surveys, or just free navigation, digital navigation is the ultimate exploration experience.

DPV’s are fast and reliable vehicles capable of covering long distances. Have you ever wanted to navigate a long and complex route underwater without losing orientation? The next question is then, how to return back to base? Can we just use GPS? Unfortunately, GPS signals do not work underwater.

Navigating underwater means moving in a 3-dimensional environment and SUEX developed a complex and innovative system just for this! Introducing you to: SINAPSI.

We had access to one of these futuristic devices and we’ve put it to the test.

We had it installed to a VRX scooter, and connected it to the ERON D-1 dashboard. For divers unfamiliar with SUEX products, VRX is the lithium battery scooter (your smart motor/propeller underwater) while ERON D-1 is your dashboard. Together, all 3 parts: VRX, Eron D-1 and SINAPSI – compose the complete exploration vehicle.

On top of that, we had the chance to install an all-purpose bracket to the vehicle where we could install our underwater camera and lights. There are extra mounting spots on the bracket for more torches, GoPros or other devices.

At first glance, the system looked bulky and it looked fragile. The total weight of the system came to 22 kg which is a much heavier load to which a regular diver can lift out of water. We had to disassemble the system (camera, the all purpose bracket, and the dash board from the scooter) in order to easily carry it over to the boat. We reassembled it all just before the dive. In all, it took 7 minutes to get back on track.

After the pre-dive safety checks, we jumped into the water. The system was handed to me from the boat while I waited at the surface. It felt weightless. Credit goes to properly weighting and adjusting the neutral buoyancy of the system before the trip.

We started with the system pre-dive check list: switching on the SINAPSI, calibrating the compass and internal sensors, and then finally recording our starting point at the surface to GNSS. The procedure took exactly 4 minutes which we had prepared ourselves for with a swimming pool orientation and training session to get to know the system beforehand. The SINAPSI has a pre-dive wet note card which makes it easy to follow while calibrating the system.

We started our descent following a free navigation route. After roving for a couple of minutes, we found an interesting spot where rocks and some neighbourhood fish were gathering. It was superb to record that site into the system memory. Now with the help of the system, we can return back to that exact site location whenever we want, and continue to record new routes.

It was interesting to free navigate as the system recorded our route and then programmed to return us straight back to base afterwards. That course remains recorded in the system which you can then download to your computer and export it to Google Earth. The system becomes an archive for covered underwater loops which can be re-loaded to the system when you need them.

It was truly amazing to return back to the boat with an accuracy of 0.5 metres! This is not a small breakthrough; it is a revolution for underwater navigation.

No matter what your objective underwater is: cave diving, search and rescue, underwater archaeology, science/research, environmental surveys, or just free navigation, digital navigation is the ultimate exploration experience.

SINAPSI NOSE

This sophisticated, yet intuitive tool makes it possible to expand exploration capabilities thanks to the following unique features:

ROUTE PLANNING VIA SMARTPHONE AND PC APPLICATION

• Navigation planning for routes connecting up to 3 waypoints + home position.

• PC software and phone app with cartography.

• Data analysis of numerical dive logs: graph and cartography.

• Dive log post-processing and export in the most used formats (CSV and KML).

DEAD RECKONING

Dead Reckoning is navigation by estimated position, unlike navigation by compass angle (heading), provides the estimated position in real time and consequently the correct angle for reaching the next waypoint.

GNSS POSITIONING - HOME POSITION

Acquisition and use of the GNSS position for:

• Establishing the starting point of the planned route.

• Memorizing the departure and return point (HOME).

• Recalculating the route for subsequent waypoints when the GNSS signal is re-acquired during navigation.

NAV FILTER

Option to set the “reactivity” of the compass on three levels.

PLANNING OF “ON THE FLY” ROUTES

Option to set infinite routes before and during navigation.

HEADING QUALITY INDEX

This Index provides the accuracy of the heading angle in real time and adjusts/degrades in conjunction with environmental changes. Indicates confidence in the accuracy of the compass and the need for calibration.

COMPASS CALIBRATION

The two-step calibration system is able to compensate for hardiron and soft-iron distortions to obtain optimal heading accuracy in every situation.

QUALITY OF THE COMPASS CALIBRATION

At the end of each Calibration step, the quality of the calibration is displayed and stored.

CALIBRATION OF THE ODOMETER

Automatic in-water odometer calibration system.

PRECISE COURSE ANGLE IN ALL POSITIONS

Heading is not negatively affected by pitch and roll movements.

THE SUEX DPV MOTOR DOES NOT AFFECT THE HEADING

Heading is not affected by the DPV motor magnetism.

DISTANCE AND SPEED MEASUREMENT

Speed measurement system by means of a robust, efficient user-adjustable odometer incorporated into the DPV which is not influenced by the DPV propeller suction and independent of the speed of the DPV.

RECEIVING DATA

The system,in addition to navigation data,provides diving data (time / depth / temperature) and DPV data such as State of charge of the battery and residual runtime in minutes.

WIRELESS SYSTEM

All connections of the navigation system are wireless. This guarantees reliability due to the absence of cables and connectors.

IOS, ANDROID AND PC APP

App for Route planning, Log download and storage.

BATTERY

User replaceable and easily available, standard batteries that provide about 40 hours of navigation use (refer to the manual for more details).