Bluefin Robotics, a leading provider of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), announced that the company has added the L-3 Klein UUV-3500Side Scan Sonar to its growing list of vehicle payload offerings.
The L-3 Klein UUV-3500 sonar is one of several next-generation, compact digital sensors available on Bluefin vehicles that provide both side scan sonar and interferometric bathymetry data particularly suited for mine countermeasures applications.
In 2012, the Ocean Technology Lab at the University of Victoria first integrated the sonar on a Bluefin-12 by utilizing Bluefin’s standard payload interface. Their team conducted successful demonstrations and survey work in Canadian Arctic and provided valuable feedback to both Bluefin and L-3 Klein regarding system level performance.
Basically, SeaFox is a mine disposal unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) manufactured by Atlas Elektronik. Guided by a fibre-optic cable, this UUV is primarily used to detect and classify mines and other identified ordnance in sea, although can also be used in damage estimation, intelligence, route survey, maritime boundary control and harbour surveillance missions. The complete SeaFox system includes a console, a launcher, and the SeaFox vehicle. It can be launched from a range of naval platforms such as dedicated mine counter measures vessels (MCM), surface combatants, rubber boats and helicopters. The UUV is currently in service in more than ten countries, including Royal Navy, Royal Thai Navy, US Naval Surface Weapons Centre and US Navy.
Variants
SeaFox is mainly offered in four variants to meet the different mission requirements of users. The variants include SeaFox C (a one-shot mine identification and disposal vehicle system used as a tool to semi-automatically dispose mines and other related things found in the sea), Sea Fox I (a mine identification, inspection and training UUV), SeaFox T (a training version of the SeaFox C) and SeaFox COBRA, equipped with the COBRA explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) tool supplied by ECS Special Projects
Design features
All the variants of the SeaFox UUV have a similar physical design and dimensions. The UUV has an overall length of 1.31m and width of 0.39m. It is designed with a height of 0.39m, and weighs approximately 43kg. The UUV can be operated at a depth of up to 300m. It can operate at a maximum speed of 6kt. It has a maximum endurance of 100 minutes depending on the assignment and other conditions.
Navigation and sensor system
SeaFox uses transponder/responder aided dead reckoning (pressure sensor) for navigation in the sea. The operator communicates with the SeaFox using a fibre-optic cable. About sensors, SeaFox is equipped with FLS sensors and a TV camera to identify the target and acquire related information.
Propulsion and power
The vehicle includes four independent reversible motors and a hover thruster which provides high manoeuvrability in reaching the desired position. Both SeaFox C and SeaFox COBRA are powered by non-rechargeable LiSO2 battery, while Sea Fox I and SeaFox T variants use rechargeable NiMH batteries.
