What's possible

GNSS is your trusted DP reference input. But what if that signal vanishes? Don't let a dropped connection halt your operations Introducing SPRINT-Nav DP – your ultimate second dynamic positioning system.

Forged from a decade of proven excellence with our SPRINT family, this cutting-edge system seamlessly integrates INS and DVL technology, delivering an unshakeable DP reference, especially in GNSS-denied environments. SPRINT-Nav DP is crucial for the growing demands of shallow water operations, ensuring pinpoint accuracy and rock-solid reliability, keeping you on course no matter what. Like all our SPRINT-Nav product family, it’s pre-calibrated, so you can start working right away.

Built for DP class 2, and above operations, its Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), featuring Honeywell ring laser gyros and accelerometers, works closely with the Syrinx DVL and the pressure sensor. This integration ensures unparalleled accuracy and reliability when dynamically positioning your vessel.

SPRINT-Nav DP saves time and costs while offering unmatched performance and reliability for a range of applications. With SPRINT-Nav DP, you don’t need to deploy other equipment such as transponders or reflectors as the Syrinx DVL locks onto the seabed for its positioning reference. This also increases the operational footprint of your vessel, which is otherwise limited in range or by weather conditions when using sensors.

Using bottom lock on the seabed, alongside pre-calibration, means that SPRINT-Nav DP is operational and can provide your position references as soon as it arrives on site. This makes it ideal for a wide range of shallow water and nearshore operations where GNSS signals are often spoofed, blocked or distorted by nearby structures such as turbines and risers or coastal geography.

Why choose SPRINT-Nav for your DP operations?

Realising the value from tightly integrating high grade INS with other aiding sensors, Sonardyne was the first company to market a hybrid acoustic-inertial family of products for subsea and surface applications – SPRINT-Nav.

The SPRINT-Nav family of instruments has been providing reliable navigation for ROV’s, AUV’s, and USV’s for more than a decade in the harshest of subsea environments, where precision, accuracy and reliability is paramount, and where there is no GNSS signal to depend on.

Renowned for dependable performance, they are the standard fit on hundreds of vehicles operating in the subsea domain. This experience, technology and expertise have led to the development of SPRINT-Nav DP for vessels operating in shallow water where a GNSS signal can’t be relied on.

By law, ships using dynamic positioning must have a number of independent position reference sensors, using different principles, to safely determine and maintain their position. This is known as “meeting class” and the number of independent references required depends on the type of class vessel. Most DP vessels operating in shallow water are class 2.

In shallow water operations, it can be a challenge to meet the requirements for independence and diversity of reference sensors. This can lead to an over reliance on multiple GNSS systems with their common vulnerabilities and failure points.

Removing the need for GNSS to give a DP reference by introducing SPRINT-Nav DP provides you with assurance that your positioning isn’t entirely reliant on a GNSS signal and will therefore still “meet class” in GNSS denied areas. Enabling you to operate safely and within the law.

What is possible

Ranger 2 comes with an impressive list of features including our award-winning 6G (sixth generation) acoustic hardware platform and Sonardyne Wideband 2 digital signal architecture. It provides stable and repeatable acoustic position referencing for your ship’s DP system, including those from GE, Kongsberg, MT, Navis, Thrustmaster and Wärtsilä.

As your needs grow and become more complex, bolt-on software packs unlock additional capability and protect your investment. Take the DP pack and enable your acoustic ranging to be aided by our inertial navigation technology (DP-INS). Add the robotics pack and commanding a swarm of up to 99 AUV’s is at your fingertips.

Ranger 2 can do even more, it also supports robust two-way data telemetry, allowing you to control our range of seafloor deployed, long-endurance sensors and recover your all-important data.

Track everything, in any depth, from any vessel

Why choose it?

• Tracks multiple targets to 11 km;
• Compatible with all makes of DP system – GE, Kongsberg, MT
• System accuracy: when fully optimised it will deliver 0.04% of slant range
• Works with a global inventory of pre-deployed Sonardyne 6G hardware
• Configurations available for USV and temporary vessel installations
• Valuable features included as standard
• Bolt-on packs available for growth with your operations and ambitions
• Developed and supported by a company with over 50 years of experience in innovative underwater technology

The kit

Transceivers

Our High Performance Transceiver (HPT), is available in a range of different designs to suit your operations whether they are in deep or shallow water or over a long layback.

HPT 5000 / 7000 are acoustic and telemetry transceivers designed for use with Ranger 2 USBL system. HPT 5000 enables targets offer wide range of water depths to be tracked; HPT 7000 is optimised for noisy DP drilling and construction vessels and in deep water.

HPT 5000 offers full hemispherical acoustic coverage so is a popular choice for tracking multiple targets (ROVs, AUVs, towfish, seafloor sensors) over a wide range of depths and elevations. The unit is also suitable for dynamic positioning reference on survey, research and offshore support vessels.

HPT 7000 is engineered for ultra-deepwater operations, tracking targets far below (rather than to the side of) a vessel, and for high vessel noise operating environments such as those typical of DP, drilling and construction where activity from thrusters is liable to cause signal interference.

If you need a solution for a vessel of opportunity, our pre-calibrated, all-in-one Gyro USBL transceiver is perfect. Lighter, smaller and just as capable, our second-generation Gyro USBL transceiver works seamlessly with Ranger 2 to track the position of your subsea targets from a USV, vessel of opportunity or from a pipelay vessel’s stinger over extreme ranges.

• All-in-one instrument; combined 6G acoustic transceiver and AHRS
• Choose between standard or ‘plus’ variants to suit your project’s specifications
• Optimises the performance of Ranger 2; eliminates lever arm offsets, pole bending and ship flexing errors
• Calibrated in-water before delivery – saving you time; install it and go to work

Transponders

The flexibility of the Ranger 2 family is further extended by our range of transponders to support a wide variety of your operations. WMT is a high-power transponder capable of operations to 7,000 m, while AvTrak 6 is our most capable acoustic vehicle instrument, combining the functions of a USBL transponder, LBL transceiver and modem for demanding applications such as AUV command and control.

Accelerate your operations with our compact powerhouse

Key benefits

Saves you time and money: pre-calibrated for immediate deployment, eliminating setup delays.

Enhanced accuracy: delivers unparalleled precision through a combined acoustic transceiver and AHRS.

Versatility: ideal for a variety of applications, including subsea structure installation, pipeline positioning and USV operations.

Compact design: up to 20% shorter and 19 kg lighter than previous versions. It’s perfect for use in space-constrained environments such as on over-the-side poles and pipelay vessel stingers.

Optimised performance: seamless integration with Ranger 2 for superior tracking accuracy.

Experience the difference

Gyro USBL is more than just a tool – it's a game-changer. Whether you're in energy, defence, or science, our advanced technology will elevate your operations with:

• Faster deployment on vessels of opportunity or from a pipelay vessel’s stinger.
• Reliable and accurate target tracking for enhanced mission success.
• Expanded exploration capabilities with extended range and precision.

How it works

Combining our cutting-edge 6G acoustic transceiver with a high-performance AHRS, Gyro USBL eliminates the lever arm offsets, pole bending and ship flexing errors common in traditional USBL systems. Its compact, corrosion-resistant design ensures durability in any marine environment.

Upgrade your operations today

Discover how Gyro USBL can revolutionise your subsea projects. Contact us to learn more about this groundbreaking technology.

Overview

When it comes to USBL and LUSBL transceivers, one model does not fit all situations and vessels. For Ranger 2 and Marksman installations, our High Performance Transceiver (HPT) is available two primary configurations.

HPT 5000
HPT 5000 offers full hemispherical acoustic coverage so it’s a popular choice for tracking multiple targets  (ROVs, AUVs, towfish, seafloor sensors) over a wide range of depths and elevations. The unit is also suitable for dynamic positioning reference on survey, research and offshore support vessels.

HPT 7000
HPT 7000 is engineered for ultra-deepwater operations, tracking targets far below (rather than to the side) of a vessel, and also high vessel noise operating environments, as those typically encountered on DP drilling and construction where aeration from thrusters is liable to cause signal interference.

Both models of transceiver fully support 6G LBL operations using Fusion 2 LBL software. They are also highly capable acoustic communications modems, able to interrogate, command and recover data payloads from deployed Sonardyne instruments including AMTs and Fetch. Supporting telemetry rates of up to 9,000 bps minimises the time a vessel has to wait on location to recover data, as well as supporting LBL operations.

HPT 5000/7000s are also available in Gyro USBL configurations offering calibration-free installation and use.

At a glance

• Use with Ranger 2 USBL and Marksman LUSBL systems
• Can also be used to communicate and harvest data from Sonardyne sensors
• Hemispherical (HPT 5000) or directional (HPT 7000) arrays to suit your vessel and application
• Can be deployed other-the-side, through-tube or through-hull
• Suitable for new-build vessels or USBL/LUBL upgrade for your existing vessel

All HPTs are built on our 6G technology platform with multi-element processing to enable transponders to be positioned more precisely, more quickly and more robustly due to improvements in signal processing algorithms and array design.

Functionality such as ‘Discovery Mode’ enables vessels equipped with Ranger 2 and Marksman to enter an offshore area and automatically detect previously deployed transponders (including their configured address and channel), making simultaneous operations using shared seabed arrays possible.

Manufactured in aluminium-bronze, HPTs are intended to be fitted temporarily or permanently to a vessel’s through-hull or over-the-side pole. HPT 5000s (including Gyro USBL 5000s) have also been fitted to large USVs for uncrewed missions controlled from over-the-horizon.

For specialist applications, inverted USBL, LMF frequency and extreme depth range HPT transceivers are also available. Please get in contact to discuss your requirements.

Reassuringly reliable Ranger 2

Ranger 2 is more than just an acoustic tracking and positioning system. It goes way beyond tracking; it can be part of a dynamic positioning system, it supports robust two-way data communication with a range of seafloor sensors to collect data, it can support AUV command and control and will even release seabed moorings.

Ranger 2 can even be run from an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) enabling truly remote, autonomous operations. Whether your mission involves seabed surveys, offshore energy site inspections or commanding a fleet of AUV’s, Ranger 2 can help you expand them over the horizon and to the edges of your imagination.

It comes with an impressive list of standard features, our award-winning 6G (sixth generation) acoustic hardware platform and Sonardyne Wideband 2 digital signal architecture. The flexibility of the Ranger 2 family is further extended by our range of 6G transponders to support a wide variety of applications.

Why should you invest?

Our Ranger 2 family gives you the versatility you need, at the investment level you can afford, to get your project completed quickly and efficiently. It’s engineered like no other USBL on the market. Adaptable, scalable and always compact, there is a Ranger 2 USBL to suit any size vessel or project. As your needs grow, bolt-on software packs unlock additional capability and protect your investment. Whichever size suits you best, they will always be compatible with our full range of 6G transponders and many other vessel systems.