SonarBell® Performance and Training System (SPATS)

Monday, 25th October 2010

  • Instant and continuous performance measurement of your Swimmer Detection Sonar
  • Simple, relevant, on-the-job training for Swimmer Detection Sonar operators

A swimmer detection system (SDS) is procured to provide peace of mind from underwater threats, but it is only truly effective if you know for certain it is working, how early you will detect any threat and how much time you then have to respond to it.

performance-and-training-systemSwimmer detection systems (also called diver detection or intruder detection systems) have undergone significant development over the last few years. There are now many on the market, all claiming advanced processing features and software enhancements that provide the operator some advantage over their competition, and all claiming excellent detection ranges considering the very challenging environments that they will be deployed in.

Here at SALT Ltd we know that what you really need is time; time to think and then time to react to an incoming threat. What’s more you need to be alerted at the moment that threat appears, not as a predicted range of the day or some other theoretical calculation.

So we developed the SonarBell®  Performance and Training System (SPATS) which does just that, and more.

The SPATS set enables SDS operators to determine instantaneously and continuously the real performance of the sonar which they are operating. This in turn means that the potential urgency of any response can also be gauged. Knowing the effective response time is vital for interception teams to be kept at the appropriate state of readiness for the prevailing conditions, without inducing unnecessary fatigue. Using SonarBells®  as range markers provides that information to operators on a ping by ping basis allowing ultimate confidence in your system performance. SonarBells®  have a low environmental impact, put no additional acoustic energy into the water and require only minimal maintenance.

SPATS also enables online training for operators to be conducted with only a small boat; a towed SonarBell®  may be used to provide a representative (diver-like), moving underwater target to exercise target recognition or tracking systems without the cost or risks of using divers. Other SonarBell® representative targets (e.g. Swimmer Delivery Vehicle like) are available on request.

The SPATS set of parts is supplied in a reusable protective case containing SonarBell® units, and all the necessary nets, floats, weights, clips and lanyards to enable simple deployment.

Subsea Asset Location Technologies (SALT) Ltd is a ‘spin out’ company from the UK Ministry of Defence’s, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and was formed to make this military derived technology available to a wider market.

SonarBell®  - SPATS: Real measurement of performance giving real peace of mind

Author: SALT Admin