German Navy Research Institute Takes Delivery of a MacArtney FOCUS 2 ROTV System

Developing new underwater technologies for the German navy is of prime concern to WehrTechnische Dienststelle, WTD 71. Therefore, they have decided on a MacArtney FOCUS 2 ROTV system representing a highly stable and flexible instrumentation platform as the basic tool for their development efforts.

With the purpose of testing SAS sonar technologies for mine detection, a full scale on-site demo of a Raytheon ProSAS installed on a FOCUS 2 ROTV system was organised for WTD 71. The advantages of the FOCUS 2 ROTV as a flexible instrumentation platform were recognised by the researchers at WTD 71, who instantly came up with new ideas for other applications enabling WTD 71 to benefit by the strong features of the FOCUS system for their research activities.

MacArtney’s FOCUS 2 vehicle subjected to a SAT out of Eckernförde, Kiel, on board the M/V Elizabeth Mann Borgese of the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde

Scope of supply

As a direct result of the demo, a set of requirements for integration of various sensor configurations was defined by WTD 71. In consequence, the FOCUS 2 has been supplied with a number of standard off-the- shelf products:

• MacArtney LUXUS compact low light cameras
• ORE Trackpoint 3 USBL transponder
• Valeport MiniSVS sound velocity sensor
• Imaginex FL forward looking sonar

Additionally, the FOCUS system has been prepared for installation of:

• Raytheon ProSAS synthetic aperture sonar
• Reson multibeam sonar
• Kearfott INS

Finally, a special interface has been developed for integration of a range of WTD 71 developed sensors.

The NEXUS based multiplexer telemetry system is an integral part of the standard FOCUS ROTV system and capable of multiplexing and transmitting data to the surface from all of the above sensors in real time, thus enabling the researchers to evaluate the sensor data and performance instantly.

• We consider it a unique opportunity for MacArtney’s engineering team to carry out the very positive and challenging teamwork with WTD 71, states Torsten Turla, Managing Director of MacArtney Germany, and goes on: Aiming to develop new underwater technologies for the German navy, WTD 71 has stipulated a number of demands that we have done our utmost to meet. The result is most satisfactory to all parties involved and we look forward to continuing our good and productive working relationship with WTD 71.