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TOBI

Towed Ocean Bottom Instrument

[http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/nmf/sea_sys_index.php?page=tb]

TOBI is a deep-towed 30kHz sidescan sonar system developed at NOCS. As well as sidescan the vehicle is equipped with swath bathymetry and profiler sonars, magnetometer and CTD instruments, and vehicle orientation and attitude sensors.

Although originally designed for acoustically imaging the deep ocean floor the TOBI system has developed into a highly versatile instrument used by both scientific agencies and commercial companies.

 

Features
  • 6000m depth capability
  • 30kHz sidescan sonar with 6km swath range
  • Swath bathymetry system uses sidescan transmit signal for a fully co-registered data set.
  • 7.5kHz sub-bottom profiler sonar giving up to 70m penetration into soft sediments
  • Tri-axial fluxgate magentometer and gyrocompass combine to give local magnetic field measurement and orientation.

 

Technical Specification.
  • Mechanical
    • Towing method: Two bodied tow system using neutrally buoyant vehicle and 600kg depressor weight.
    • Size 4.5m x 1.5m x 1.1m (lxhxw).
    • Weight 2200kg in air.
    • Tow cable Up to 10km armoured coax.
    • Umbilical 200m long x 50mm diameter, slightly buoyant.
    • Tow speed 1.5 to 3 knots (dependent on tow length).

     

  • Sonar Systems
    • Sidescan Sonar Frequency 30.37kHz (starboard) 32.15kHz (port).
    • Pulse Length 2.8ms.
    • Array Length 3m.
    • Ouput Power 600W each side.
    • Range 3000m each side.
    • Beam Pattern 0.8 x 45 degree fan.

     

  • Bathymetry Sonar
    • Transmitter Uses sidescan sonar.
    • Receiver 6 hydrophone arrays in 2 housings for each side.
    • Array Length 3m.
    • Detection Single and multi-phase.
    • Range Up to 3000m each side.
    • Profiler Sonar Frequency 7.5kHz.
    • Pulse Length 0.26ms.
    • Output Power 500W.
    • Range Up to 70m penetration over soft sediment.
    • Resolution <1m.
    • Beam Pattern 25 degree cone.

     

Standard Instrumentation
  • Magnetometer Ultra Electronics Magnetics Division MB5L.
    • Range +/- 100,000nT on each axis.
    • Resolution 0.2nT.
    • Noise +/- 0.4nT.

     

  • CTD Falmouth Scientific Instruments, Micro CTD.
    • Conductivity Range 0 to 65 mmho/cm.
    • Resolution 0.0002 mmho/cm.
    • Accuracy +/- 0.005 mmho/cm.
    • Temperature Range -2 to 32° Celcius.
    • Resolution 0.0001° C.
    • Accuracy +/- 0.005° C.
    • Depth Range 0 to 7000 dbar.
    • Resolution 0.02 dbar.
    • Accuracy +/-0.12% F.S.

     

  • Heading S.G. Brown SGB 1000U Gyrocompass.
    • Resolution 0.1 degrees.
    • Accuracy Better than 1°, lattitude < 70°.
    • Pitch/Roll Dual Axis Electrolytic Inclinometer.
    • Range +/- 20 degrees.
    • Resolution 0.2 degrees.
    • Altitude Taken from profiler sonar.
    • Range 1000m.
    • Resolution 1m.

 

 
 
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