Innomar "autonomous" USV with Sub-Bottom Profiler
Innomar's parametric sub-bottom profilers are often used in shallow and extremely shallow waters with limited access for vessels and boats. To support such surveys Innomar offers a remotely operated surface vehicle pre-configured with the Innomar smart SBP. This vehicle can be used to survey a pre-defined area automatically or to work in protected areas like drinking-water reservoirs. It is also possible to integrate third-party equipment, such as ADCP, MBES or sidescan sonars.





Click on pictures to enlarge. Photos show the first generation, the current setup is shown below.
System Components
- Innomar smart parametric sub-bottom profiler (3) with transducer and mounting bracket (4)
- dotOcean Calypso inflatable survey platform (1)
- one box for platform control electronics (2) (dotOcean AYB, uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for payload PC and control electronics, sensors) and thruster battery
- dotOcean AYB / Atlantis cloud auto-navigation, manual radio remote control
- one box for payload battery (5)
- underwater thrusters (6)
- WiFi and LTE/4G antennas (7)
- optional: dual-antenna GNSS for position and heading
Note: Due to shipping restrictions, batteries are usually not included in the delivery.
Technical Specification
Sub-bottom Profiler (Innomar smart SBP) | |
Water Depth Range | 0.5 – 100 m |
Sediment Penetration | up to 20 m (depending on sediment type and noise) |
Range / Layer Resolution | approx. 1 cm / better than 10 cm |
Transmit Beam Width (-3dB) | approx. ±2.5° / footprint <9% of water depth |
Primary Frequencies (PF) | approx. 100 kHz (frequency band 90 – 110 kHz) |
PF Source Level / Acoustic Power | >235 dB//µPa re 1m / ~2 kW |
Secondary Low Frequency (SLF) | centre freq. 10 kHz (total frequency band 5 – 15 kHz) |
Pulse Width | user selectable 0.1 – 0.5 ms |
Pulse Type | Ricker, CW |
Ping Rate | up to 40 pings/s |
Heave / Roll / Pitch Compensation | heave (depending on external sensor data) |
Data Acquisition | digital 16 bit @ ~70 kHz sample rate; PF 100 kHz envelope echosounder data / bottom track;SLF 10kHz full-waveform sub-bottom data |
Dimensions / Weight | W 0.43m × D 0.33m × H 0.23m / 9 kg |
Power Supply | 10 – 30 V DC / <100 W |
Transducer (2m cable) | W 30cm × D 22cm × H 9cm / 13kg incl. cable and mointing bracket |
Survey Platform / Propulsion / Power Supply | |
Dimensions / Weight | L 180cm × W 93cm × H 20cm / 16kg |
Platform Payload Capacity | max. 150 kg |
Remote Control | cloud control (3G / 4G) or radio R/C |
Under Keel Clearance | 25 cm |
Speed | max. 3 knots |
Sensor Mount | via moon-pool or detachable bracket |
Platform Control Box | W 66cm × D 52cm × H 38cm / 29kg (excl. battery)incl. control electronics, data acquisition PC with UPS |
Payload Power Supply | |
Payload Battery Box | W 0.43m × D 0.33m × H 0.23m / 4 kg (excl. battery) |
Applications
- surveys in very shallow waters
- surveys in sensible environments such as drinking-water reservoirs
- automatic data acquisition in pre-defined areas with narrow line spacing for shallow-seismic 3D modeling
- users may integrate various third-party equipment, such as MBES, ADCP or sidescan sonar

Related Documents
- Innomar SES-2000 autonomous SBP with USV
- Innomar SES-2000 smart parametric sub-bottom profiler on autonomous platform dotOcean Calypso for rapid 3D shallow-seismic investigation
Technical specifications are subject of change without notice.