iXBlue,
a leading provider of navigation, positioning, and mapping solution
has launched the fourth-generation GAPS, which constitutes a significant
enhancement to its well-established USBL acoustic positioning product
family. From its first generation introduced in 2004, GAPS has established
an excellent record in a variety of critical applications and has won
over users who value performance combined with high reliability. GAPS
has increasingly provided the industry benchmark for USBLs. |
GAPS
combines a USBL, inertial navigation system (INS), real-time positioning,
and GPS within the same unit, which means that units are stand-alone
and compact. Flexibility for either portable or permanent installations,
pre-calibration, and simplicity of deployment result in operational
cost and time-saving advantages. Critically, the design of the units
also makes them suitable for use in both deep (greater than 4 000 meter)
and very shallow (10 meter) waters, from noisy vessels and in reflective
environments such as harbors – all performance benefits which
have been repeatedly demonstrated in a wide range of demanding environment
and commercial applications.
The fourth-generation GAPS system offers a range of other new key features.
Chief among these are compatibility with third-party beacons, support
of dynamic positioning (DP), the ability to position more transponders
simultaneously and enhanced coupling. In addition, the units come with
Ethernet connections and a web-based MMI; the ability to position and
command release transponders; more inputs and outputs; and open architecture
to aid evolution and the use of the latest add-ons. |
Christian
Giroussens, iXBlue’s VP of acoustic products business unit said:
“GAPS new powerful DP mode (L/USBL/ INS), universal utilization,
extended range from very shallow to very deep waters, and flexibility
for use in portable and permanent installations, combined with the system’s
accuracy, ease and speed of use and its increased versatility, translate
to higher return-on-investment and faster-time-to-market for our USBL
positioning customers. iXBlue is committed to providing customers with
the best technology packaged in ways that make life easier and operations
less expensive. We talk to customers constantly and strive continuously
to improve our products in line with their needs.” Based on the
clear performance benefits of the new GAPS system, a leading global
seabed seismic exploration company has already signed up to the product.
The selection decision, over an incumbent supplier, was heavily influenced
by the pre-calibration capability of GAPS plus the fourth-generation
features, notably the system’s transponder versatility.
Additionally, Applied Acoustic Engineering (AAE), based in the UK, and
iXBlue have started to promote the fully validated cross-compatibility
between their acoustic positioning products thus creating a greater
degree of flexibility across a wide market area.
Customers of fourth-generation GAPS will additionally benefit from iXBlue
advantage with combined Inertial-Acoustic solutions for underwater positioning
and navigation. GAPS customers would be well served in combining GAPS
benefits with the solution advantages of next generation medium-frequency
(MF) RAMSES (new RAMSES was simultaneously launched) with sparse array
positioning, auto-calibration functionality, and third-party transponder
support. |
