History of NORBIT Imaging Sonars
WINGHEAD F11 Integration
All platforms supported
Performance In a Small Form Factor
Summary of Benefits
- Highest bandwidth processing available in the industry
- Superior range resolution, curved array and signal processing equals unmatched data quality in a compact system.
- NORBIT provides integration support for turnkey solutions requiring custom cables/adaptation to 3rd party connectors.
- Adding additional software processing chains is possible by an agile public interface for real-time or after-action processing.
Technical Highlights
- Compact system with processing inside the sonar and one interface cable.
- The curved array technology provides 180-degree horizontal coverage and >25-degree vertical coverage for comprehensive area imaging.
- The 80kHz bandwidth yields <10mm Range Resolution
- 0.5 deg beams with up to 1024 beams.
- Ultra-compact design for easy installation on most UUV, ASV, ROV, and Surface Vessels.
- Can be combined with NORBIT’s GuardPoint Software for underwater intruder detection.
- Standard depth rating 900m or 4500m
- Outputs standard S7K Imagery Format
Applications:
- Navigational Aid, Obstacle Avoidance
- MCM, Intruder Detection
- Offshore Energy Exploration
- Dive Team Support, EOD, S&R
- Underwater Infrastructure Inspection
- Marine Research and Exploration
- Fisheries and Aquaculture
Real Operational Data Examples
To present results in a meaningful way, the outputs of the WINGHEAD F11 are displayed based on range performance using the following range scales:
Data was collected using NORBIT’s surface vessels or vessels of opportunity equipped with a standard NORBIT PORTUS pole mount and custom angle-adjustable brackets.
Various targets were chosen to highlight recognisable objects and features at different ranges.
Results
1. Short Range
Complex Objects and Navigation
Search and Recovery, Navigation
In this image, the superior performance of the WINGHEAD F11 can be seen when imaging details of complex structures ahead of a vehicle. The structure of tall rocks and man-made objects is easily identified in the middle of the river, a high-traffic shipping and recreational waterway that requires constant management as the depth varies widely from2-5m+ through the year.
Using historical images allows for confirmation of what the sonar detects. In this case, the sonar image shows the wreckage of a crane that was lost during the reconstruction of the Liberty Bridge in Budapest after WWII.
2. Mid-Range
Detailed Inspection Using Acoustic Zoom
Environmental & Navigation Imaging
3. Introduction to Long Range Imaging
Airplane Wreck
Imaging a wreck from various angles with WINGHEAD F11 allows the operator to understand the location and orientation of an object.
Note that the acoustic shadow of this wreck indicates that the structure is not sitting flat on the sea floor.
This is later confirmed using the NORBIT iWBMS high-resolution mapping system.
Optimising mapping activity
Once an object of interest is located using the imaging sonar, a detailed bathymetry map can be quickly made using a mapping sonar, such as the NORBIT iWBMS. Combining imaging from WINGHEAD F11 for long range localization enables a more efficient definition of a specific survey area, thus saving time.
In this example we show the outputs of the mapping survey that confirms the location and orientation of the wreck on the seabed.
