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Mini-Ranger 2 USBL

Underwater tacking, positioning and comms with robotic capability

Engineered for

AUV ROV Diver USV
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Overview

Mini-Ranger 2. Performance without the cost and complexity of a deep water USBL solution.

Our workhorse USBL adds precision, robotic capability and operational reach to your underwater offshore positioning and tracking.

If larger, precise underwater projects are high on your operational agenda, Mini-Ranger 2 meets your requirements. With extendable operational ranges and increased accuracy, it’s the surveyor’s choice for challenging environments and deeper waters.

Not only can it track and position, it’s also the underwater communications gateway to your marine robotics operations. It’s perfect for all your nearshore operations; UXO surveys, search and recovery, structure inspection, site characterisation and much more.

Shallow to deep, even at high elevations, Mini-Ranger 2 provides flexibility to your underwater operations without compromising performance.

What is possible

As our mainstay USBL system for nearshore operations, Mini-Ranger 2 is a tracking, positioning and communications system with robotic capability. Straight out of the box it can track and communicate up to 995m. With an extension pack, this can be extended to 4,000m making it suitable for any AUV, diver, ROV, towfish, USV or vessel in shallow to mid-depth waters across many operational areas.

For ocean science and environmental campaigns, its survey-grade accuracy adds precision to your operations whether they involve; environmental surveys, aquaculture, coastal science, research vessels, sensor tracking or site survey and characterisation for offshore renewable energy.

For Naval test ranges and military diving – Mini-Ranger 2 allows you to track up to ten divers simultaneously, bringing precision and safety to maneuvers.

It offers more than just tracking – with the addition of a robotics pack – Mini-Ranger 2 allows you to communicate with, command and control up to ten vehicles simultaneously within your marine robotics fleet.

Technology Focus – Mini-Ranger 2 USBL for renewables

USBL tracking without the complexity – when micro is too small, but Ranger 2 is too big – mini is just right

Why choose it?

  • Portable and quick to mobilise; a great choice for small survey vessels, moored barges and uncrewed vessels
  • 995 m operating range; extendable to 4,000 m (requires export license)
  • System accuracy 0.2%–1.3% of slant range, depending on system configuration
  • Optional Marine Robotics software feature pack provides command and control of AUVs
  • Works with a wide range of 6G transponders including RT 6 acoustic releases
  • Simple to configure and easy to use, even with no experience of acoustic tracking technology
  • Developed and supported by a company with over 50 years of experience in innovative underwater technology

The kit

HPT 3000

HPT 3000 is the highly capable surface deployed USBL transceiver at the heart of the Ranger 2 system. It’s suitable for all your operations, whether they involve shallow water, high elevation, long lay back operating scenarios, or data telemetry.

You can choose to deploy it over the side of your vessel on a simple pole arrangement or under the hull of a USV. If your operations demand a permanent deployment, a through-hull deployment setup is possible. Simply fit a transponder to each target you want to track and you’re ready to go!

HPT 3000 simply connects to your PC running the Ranger 2 software – the same process and software applies across the whole Ranger 2 family. As standard, it enables data harvesting from seafloor instruments, using crewed or uncrewed vessels, and works with a wide range of 6G transponders including RT 6 acoustic releases.

Transponder options

A wide range of our 6G transponders can be used with Mini-Ranger 2, allowing you to select the right one for your operations. If you’re tracking divers, small to medium sized AUVs or micro-class ROVs, Nano is a popular choice. When tracking larger targets such as a towfish, a crane wire lowering a structure, or an observation-class ROV, WSM 6+ will meet your requirements. If you need to release and retrieve seabed assets, our RT 6 allows you to deploy, track and recover seafloor equipment – all in one instrument.

Performance

• 0.2% positioning repeatability using external MRU
• 1.3% positioning repeatability using internal MRU
• Up 10 targets tracked, simultaneously
• 995 m maximum tracking range, extendable to 4,000 m
• 3 Hz position update rate

Acoustics

• MF frequency (19–34 kHz)
• Supports Sonardyne Messaging Service for data exchange
• Transceiver optimised for high elevation tracking in quiet environments
• Sonardyne Wideband 2 acoustics for reliable performance in both shallow and deep water

Ownership

• ITAR Controlled: No
• Warranty: 1 year return to Sonardyne service centre
• What’s in the box: HPT 3000, SIU, deck cables, software, manual
• UK Export Licence: Not required for 995 m version. Required for extended range (4,000 m) version

Overview

• Whatever you want to track, it adds survey-grade precision and accuracy to your operations
• Mini Ranger 2 opens up the possibilities for your marine robotics fleet to communicate, command and control them
• Provides flexibility to your underwater operations without compromising performance

Specifications table

Feature Specification
Design Powerful features for commercial users
Easy to transport, hardware comes in one box
Configurable for manned or unmanned vessel operations
Quick to mobilise, configure and uninstall
Shares common platform with other Sonardyne USBLs
Performance 0.2% positioning repeatability using external MRU
1.3% positioning repeatability using internal MRU
Up 10 targets tracked, simultaneously
995 m tracking range; extendable to 4,000 m
Uo to 3 Hz position update rate
Acoustics MF frequency (20–34 kHz)
Sonardyne Wideband 2 digital acoustics for reliable performance in both shallow and deep environments
Supports Sonardyne Messaging Service for data exchange
Transceiver optimised for high elevation tracking

Frequently asked questions

Planning 6G beacon deployments

CASIUS calibration recommendations

What is a USBL and how does it work?

How to use Auto Discover to scan the water for unknown transponder addresses

How to mount and extract an ISO image

Mini-Ranger 2 and Micro-Ranger 2 software installation

MF Beacon Positioning for Transition Zone and Ocean Bottom Cable Applications

HF Beacon Positioning for Transition Zone and Ocean Bottom Cable Applications

How to change your Mini-Ranger 2 IP address

Opening a .DJF file on Sonardyne De Novo Job Viewer

How to download or upload files using Filezilla

How do I mark where my RT 6-1000 is deployed?

Can I get USBL position updates from my AUV with Ranger 2/ Mini-Ranger 2?

Has anyone ever installed an echosounder and Ranger 2 USBL transceiver directly beside each other? Would this work?

Can I perform a USBL verification in shallow water without an ROV to deploy or recover the beacon?

How quickly can I start tracking beacons with Mini-Ranger 2

How do USBLs work?

How do I perform an LBL calibration in Fusion 2?

Advantages of using Ranger 2 for ROV tracking

When to use Depth Aiding

What to consider when mounting acoustic transducers

What acoustic address should I use for my USBL transponder

How to interface Ranger 2 into a 3rd party survey system

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 release an RT 6 acoustic release transponder using Ranger 2

How to set up an update rate in Ranger 2

How to set the operating range in Ranger 2

How to configure sound speed in Ranger 2

Manuals and quick start guides