Picotech Ltd Launches Man-Portable Multibeam USV

Sector innovators Picotech Ltd have launched their latest product worldwide this week. PicoPOD is a turnkey multibeam package for USVs and small survey vessels with a very simple mechanical interface. It is supported by industry standard acquisition and processing software and is ideal for use in surveying ports, harbors, tidal barriers, bridge footings, dams and reservoirs.

CEO Allan Willcox said, “We’re very excited about unveiling our PicoPOD which is built on the back of a decade of research and product development. Combined with a small COTS USV, such as Seafloor Systems' HyDrone USV, PicoPOD is the only man-portable multibeam USV on the market.”

Picotech Ltd have set the standard for low-power, low-cost multibeam sonar systems and this new product sees them reach new sectors in the market. The PicoPOD system operates to a sounding depth of 240m and has a maximum swath width of 408m. Its features include a PicoMB-120 Multibeam with Integrated Applanix POS MV, Windows 10 IoT Embedded PC, Valeport UltraSV, a hydrodynamic enclosure plus optional extension wings for larger USVs, built in support for RTK via VRS Now® (with user’s subscription), RTK via base station with optional UHF modem, optional mounting points for tracking prisms and an optional Lidar.

PicoPODs have been incredibly successful with early adopters. The systems have been deployed in the UK, US, Japan and Italy for hydrographic survey of ports, tidal barriers, rivers, tailing ponds, SAR and multibeam training courses.