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Hydrographic Survey - Unmanned Surface Vessels platform and offer the user the best conÞ guration for his par- ticular requirements.A survey USV must be convenient for day-to-day use by survey service providers, so simplicity to launch, operate and recover were recognized as essential features of the vehicle. Therefore, the SONOBOT was constructed of lightweight materials and was designed to be assembled without any tools or special skills. Larger payload capacity was given up for better transportability, so the SONOBOT system Þ ts into a car trunk and does not require a bulky trailer or container. De- signed as a turnkey solution, the Sonobot delivers precise and accurate bathymetry data in autonomous mode.As anyone in the Þ eld knows, there exists no single solution for every hydrography scenario, and Sonobot does have its limitations. ÒThere are compromises to be made in terms of the size of the equipment and its autonomy, or in terms of how many parameters can be measured at the same time versus the operating time,Ó said Bustamante. ÒOne of the biggest limita- tions still is when operating in unknown areas, as there is al- ways the possibility that the vehicle will have to be rescued if there are trees around, for example. We minimize the chances of this happening by adding sensors and the option to monitor the operation in real time even with video streams.Ó While Sonobot is indeed an important system for EvoLog- ics, the company has a judicious investment plan to help it fur- ther penetrate this emerging market. ÒEvoLogics is investing in the development of modular platforms that can be deployed ß exibly in different scenarios to collect a wide range of sensor data,Ó said Bustamante. ÒOur focus is on a segment that needs to operate the vehicle quickly without big logistical needs. Therefore our vehicles have a relative small size, but without compromising stability. At the same time, we aim at ease of use by having components that can be assembled easily on the Þ eld without needing tools. In addition, we are looking at Case Study Sonobot Goes to Work A growing metropolis, Berlin has an arsenal of big building projects, with the 2.2 km underground extension of Berlin metro in the city center an example. The construction works put the surrounding buildings and infrastructure at risk, moreover, as the line is to go underneath the river Spree, a potential ß ood at the site increases the risk levels and requires regular assessment. To enable early detection of a potential threat, it was important to perform geological mapping of the initial condi- tions of the river bottom, and proceed with regular monitoring mis- sions to track the changes that might occur during the construction period. Hydrographic survey operations at the construction site were carried out with the EvoLogics Sonobot - a light unmanned surface ve- hicle for bathymetry and seaß oor imaging in harbors and inland waters. Equipped with an accurate DGPS with RTK, it provided positioning data with centimeter accuracy. The SonobotÕs single-beam echo sound- er, based on EvoLogics patented S2C broadband communication tech- nology, delivered accurate depth measurements even in shallow waters at the metro lineÕs construction site. Sonobot offered the commissioned service provider the beneÞ ts of conducting fully-automated survey mis- sions. It is equipped with an autopilot for waypoint-based navigation, so a once established survey grid can be repeated as often as necessary for regular monitoring of the river bottom. Due to its ß exibility and compact size, the Sonobot was chosen for the mission as a clear advantage over a survey boat. Its transportabil- ity, fast setup time and low maintenance proved valuable due to the structural and technological particularities of the construction site to be monitored. Sonobot Key Features - Differential GPS for high-accuracy cartography (GPS, GLONASS and Galileo) - Side-scan sonar option - Integrated camera for operation in remote locations and surveillance - Fast access to points of interest, accurate maneu- vers and ef Þ cient area scanning with precisely con- trollable hydro jet thrusters - Batteries for more than 10 hours of operation (at optimum operation speed)- Software for Þ eld operation and data processing with visual geo referenced representation - Autonomous and radio controlled operation modes - Wi-Fi communication (GPRS/UMTS) - On-board data logging, wireless transmission on de- mand- Carbon Þ ber ß oaters, corrosion-free materials, resis- tant to seawater and industrial waste water - Can be handled by a single person May 201326 MTRMTR #4 (18-33).indd 26MTR #4 (18-33).indd 265/6/2013 10:54:53 AM5/6/2013 10:54:53 AM