AvTrak 6

Tracking, communications and relocation transceiver

Engineered for

AUV

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Overview

Reliable AUV tracking

The most versatile instrument you can fit to your AUV. Built for simple integration on medium to large AUV platforms, all-in-one functionality comes as standard with AvTrak 6. The system enables your AUV to perform simultaneous LBL ranging, USBL tracking, and AUV to vessel/AUV to AUV communication.

Add AvTrak, add capability to your AUV

AvTrak 6 has been designed to form part of your integrated AUV tracking and navigation system.

Built on our 6G hardware platform running secure Wideband 2 spread-spectrum signal processing, AvTrak 6 combines the functions of transponder, transceiver and telemetry link in one low power unit that meets the requirements of a wide variety of AUV mission scenarios, vehicle types and the operational demands for different industries.

For energy – whether you’re operating a resident vehicle over-the-horizon or deploying an AUV for a pipeline inspection, AvTrak 6 is a key enabler for your oilfield and renewable energy projects.

For defence – AvTrak 6 technology provides amazing flexibility bringing together tracking, navigation aiding and secure battlespace communications into one low logistics payload that’s perfect for unmanned covert and swarm missions.

For science – AvTrak 6 is an excellent choice for your long-endurance ocean observation platforms, with the added ability to communicate and download data from seafloor sensor arrays.

The unit is fully compatible with our family of survey quality LBL and USBL navigation systems. It supports Sonardyne Messaging Service (SMS) allowing USBL position fixes to be sent to your vehicle or for status messages to be retrieved from the topside system.

At a glance

Combines tracking, communications, and emergency pinger functionality in one instrument
Track your AUV in USBL mode, localise it in LBL transponder mode
Bi-directional acoustic modem with user selectable data rates; 200-9,000 bps
Integrated outputs enable control of a release, burn-wire or drop-weight functions
Worried about onboard power interruption? AvTrak’s internal battery provides days of emergency vehicle relocation tracking
Choice of hardware configurations to simplify vehicle installation

Are you ready to add the AvTrak advantage?

AvTrak 6 is available in a variety of configurations to meet your mission profiles.

A popular option is an omni-directional unit with integral or remote transducer options. For operations at depth, an integral directional transducer option is common.

A flexible configuration assists the AUV manufacturer with the mounting of AvTrak 6 within the AUV and ensures the highest levels of acoustic performance. Low-medium frequency (LMF) and high-power (HP) versions of AvTrak 6 are also available.

An AUV equipped with AvTrak 6 can receive navigation updates from any 6G compatible USBL or LBL system, send status updates to multiple 6G instruments including other AUVs and synchronise clocks with other 6G instruments to better than 50 microseconds as standard.

That’s not all, there is an option to include an HPR400 Series tone for compatibility with a variety of other acoustic systems and transponders and another option to enable a RSPSK Modem upgrade for large volume data transfers.

It’s simple to integrate to your AUV using our rich 6G protocols and command language and RS232 serial interface. Choose from over 600 independent acoustic addresses and AvTrak 6 enables your AUV to work as part of a swarm if required.

Marine Robotics AUV ROV USV Uncrewed Surface Vehicles Defence

Bringing special order accuracy to small diameter AUVs

Navigation AUV Defence

L3Harris takes USBL-aided AUV navigation to the next level

General

• Emergency burn-wire, drop-weight, or release options
• Open interfaces and protocols
• Supports AUV swarm operations
• Combined transponder, transceiver, and telemetry link in one low power unit

Ownership

• What’s in the box: AvTrak 6 and manual
• Warranty: 1 year return to Sonardyne service centre

Performance

• Depth rated to 3,000 m and 7,000 m
• Effective data transfer rates between 200 and 9000 bps
• Emergency battery life 30 days
• Range precision better than 15 mm
• LMF (14-19 kHz) and MF (19-34 kHz)

Design

• Different configurations including omni-directional and directional transducers
• Integrated depth sensor supports horizontal tracking
• Low power and compact for ease of integration
• OEM option also available

Specifications table

Featured		Type 8220-3111	Type 8220-7212
Depth Rating		3,000 m	7,000 m
Operating Frequency		MF (20–34 kHz)	MF (20–34 kHz)
Transducer Beam Shape		Omni-directional	Directional
Transmit Source Level (re 1 µPa @ 1 m)	High Power	187 dB	193 dB
	Low Power	181 dB	187 dB
Tone Equivalent Energy (TEE) WBv2+	High Power	193 dB	199 dB
	Low Power	187 dB	193 dB
Range Precision		Better than 15 mm	Better than 15 mm
Depth Sensor		± 0.5% full scale	± 0.5% full scale
Communications Interface		RS232 (9,600–115,200 baud)	RS232 (9,600–115,200 baud)
External Supply Voltage		24 or 48 V dc (± 10%)	24 or 48 V dc (± 10%)
External Power	Sleep	~650 mW	~650 mW
	Wideband Listening	~1 W	~1 W
	Battery Charging	6 W	6 W
	Peak (During Transmission)	<50 W	<50 W
Battery Life (Li-ion 15 V)	Listening	30 days	30 days
	Continuous 5 Sec Interrogation	Approx. 6 days at low power	Approx. 6 days at low power
Operating Temperature		-5 to 40ºC	-5 to 40ºC
Storage Temperature		-20 to 55ºC	-20 to 55ºC
Mechanical Construction		Anodised aluminium alloy and plastic	Anodised aluminium alloy and plastic
Dimensions (Diameter x Length)		93 x 500 mm	97 x 513 mm
Weights in Air/Water		5.1/2.2 kg	7.0/3.5 kg
Options		Remote, cable connected transducer Right-angle connector	Right-angle connector

Frequently asked questions

What to consider when mounting acoustic transducers

How can an uncrewed system interact with Ranger 2 software?

How can I synchronise a clock on my AUV to a GNSS reference using Ranger 2?

What is Telemetry Tracking, and why would I need it?

How to set up an update rate in Ranger 2

STP files

AvTrak 6 – STP Files

Software and firmware

AvTrak 6 – Firmware

Software and control hardware

How to set up an update rate in Ranger 2

Top tips

What to consider when mounting acoustic transducers

Datasheets

AvTrak 6 – Datasheets

Manuals and quick start guides

AvTrak 6 – Manuals

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