THEMILITARYMARKETPLACE of the analog return signal digitized to full 16-bit resolution. In addition, the CV 3 offers the possibility of adding a third acoustic channel (X3) to the standard dual frequency (X2) configuration. INTERNATIONAL SUBMARINE ENGINEERING (ISE) Canada’s International Submarine Engineering (ISE) designs and develops AUVs, ROVs, Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and manned submersibles suitable for many defence operations. While the primary focus is on vehicle platforms, ISE also builds and supplies manipulators, hydraulic components and tools for use with ROVs and other robotics systems. Notable product achievements include the HYSUB series of ROVs, the Theseus AUV,
which holds the endurance record ISE’s Explorer AUV for AUVs, the Explorer Class of AUVs, Shell SmartPump refuelling robot and the STM Crew training robot for the Canadian Space Agency. ISE’s equipment is found in all sectors of the underwater activity including offshore, cable maintenance, marine science and oceanography and naval mine countermeasures. ISE’s experience is represented by the 210 underwater vehicles ISE has built and delivered Complementing design and manufacture, to clients in 20 countries. Of these vehicles, ISE has built a framework for control systems over 25 are AUVs. These range from a 25 kg that span a wide range of remotely controlled suitcase size vehicles known as SeaSquirt to applications. ACE, short for Automated ConTheseus, the longest-range AUV that currently trol Engine, is a unified control system design exists in the world. that is used across all unmanned vehicles based on common core software for command and control. Since cost is becoming a greater factor in capital purchase, ISE’s aim is to provide vehicles with longevity. Many of ISE’s underwater vehicles have been used for over 15 years. As an example, recently one of ISE’s ROVs completed its 3000th dive after 18 years of service. IXSEA Ixsea’s state-of-the-art Fiber Optic Gyroscope (FOG) technology has proven ideal for naval applications. Designed to meet the demands of the navy for more accurate inertial navigation systems, MARINS is Ixsea’s state-of-the-art naval inertial navigation system based on the solid state FOG technology. Currently the US Department of Defence is investing millions of dollars to develop military grade inertial systems based on FOG technology for its navy. However, Ixsea is already producing systems with this technology. Earlier this year, Ixsea delivered several MARINS to the Dutch-based Imtech Marine & Offshore. These systems, perfect for naval applications, will be used on ocean patrol vessels. Ixsea also provides full route survey
Ixsea’s Gradiomagis
systems, consisting of a full suite of sensors (sonars, multibeam echosounder, gradiometer and an acoustic position system) as well as software which allows survey management, display and interpretation of all collected data. Recently, the Belgian Navy commissioned such a portable route survey system to be used on its fleet of mine-hunters. Recently launched, Gradiomagis is a truly omnidirectional gradiometer designed to map unexploded ordnance or other metallic objects. Its real-time magnetic gradient computa66
www.adc-int.org • www.underwater.com
September•October 2008