A data traffic controller and a system comprising the data traffic controller
A data traffic controller with multiplexing capabilities addresses the challenge of real-time sound velocity profile acquisition in marine surveys by integrating it into towed devices, facilitating simultaneous data transmission and reducing survey interruptions and costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FNV IP BV
- Filing Date
- 2025-01-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing marine survey methods require time-consuming pauses for sound velocity profile acquisition, which is necessary for accurate sonar data interpretation, especially when using towed devices like sidescan sonars, due to limited communication resources and high costs of adding additional hardware.
A data traffic controller with multiplexing capabilities is integrated into a towed device, allowing simultaneous transmission of sound velocity profile data and other sensor data to a surface vessel using existing communication ports, eliminating the need for additional hardware and enabling real-time data acquisition.
Enables real-time sound velocity profile data collection without interrupting surveys, reducing costs and time consumption by integrating a data traffic controller with multiplexing functionality into existing communication systems.
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Abstract
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to marine survey technologies, and more specifically to a data traffic controller and a system for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel. Unlocking insights from Geo-Data, the present invention further relates to improvements in sustainability and environmental developments: together we create a safe and liveable world. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Sonar systems, including side-scan sonar and multibeam echo sounders, MBES, are often used in geophysical surveys to obtain needed information. Sonar systems rely on acoustic signals to detect underwater objects, map the seafloor, and gather hydrographic data. The accuracy of these systems depends on knowing the sound velocity profile to properly interpret the acoustic signals' travel time and propagation path.
[0003] Sound travels at different speeds in water depending on factors such as temperature, salinity, and pressure. These factors affect the acoustic signals emitted by the sonars. Having accurate sound velocity profiles allows for better correction of sonar data, enhancing the precision of underwater mapping and target detection. Therefore, obtaining the sound velocity profile, SVP, is needed when sonars are used to perform underwater surveys.
[0004] Traditionally, sound velocity profiles were obtained by deploying a Conductivity, Temperature, Depth, CTD, sensor into the water separately, and the data was collected before or after the sonar survey.
[0005] Following the traditional methods, the survey vessel needs to pause the geophysical survey operation to acquire the SVP. During this pause, the crew retrieves all the towed sensors, including for example a side-scan sonar, a magnetometer, a boomer, and a hydrophone, from the water and secures them on deck.
[0006] Once the towed sensors are safely stowed, the crew deploys a dedicated SVP sensor into the water. The SVP sensor measures properties such as temperature, salinity, and pressure at various depths, providing the necessary data to calculate the sound velocity profile. After obtaining the SVP data, the vessel resumes the geophysical survey by redeploying the towed sensors back into the water.
[0007] Such a procedure involves recovering of various towed devices and deploying of the SVP sensor, it is extremely time consuming to do an SVP profiling in this way during the survey.
[0008] In recent years, developments have made it possible to acquire the SVP on the fly. On-the-fly acquisition of the SVP refers to obtaining SVPs simultaneously as the sonar survey progresses, providing real-time corrections to the sonar data. This is mainly used in automated devices, such as autonomous underwater vehicles, AUVs, remotely operated vehicles, ROVs. The communication of the obtained SVP data is transmitted to data centers or surface vessels using readily available communication resources of the AUVs or ROVs.
[0009] For a towed device such as a sidescan sonar, there is limited communication resources to implement an integrated SVP sensor. Supplementing communication resources directly to the towed device can involve an undesirable increase of cost.
[0010] There is a need for a cost-effective way of realizing on-the-fly SVP data acquisition in combination with towed devices. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In one aspect of the invention there is provided a data traffic controller for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel, the first sensor and second sensor both communicatively connectable to a towed device communicatively connected to the surface vessel, the data traffic controller comprising:
[0012] - a first communication port for receiving the first data collected by the first sensor;
[0013] - a second communication port for receiving the second data collected by the second sensor;
[0014] - a microcontroller communicatively connected to the first communication port and the second communication port and configured for multiplexing the first data and the second data into multiplexed data;
[0015] - a third communication port communicatively connected to the microcontroller and configured for receiving the multiplexed data and transmitting the multiplexed data to the surface vessel via a communication medium.
[0016] The present disclosure is based on the insight that a cost effective way of transmitting extra data, that is, the first sensor data, needed for performing the marine survey and collected by the first sensor, is by using a data traffic controller. The data traffic controller receives and multiplexes both the first and second data, which allows both the first and second data to be transmitted to the surface vessel without implementing addition hardware or software needed for providing the needed communication resources.
[0017] The data traffic controller comprises two input port respectively for receiving the first and second data. The received data are multiplexed by a microcontroller connected to both the first and second input ports. The multiplexed data is then transmitted via an output port of the data traffic controller to any desired destination.
[0018] In an example of the present disclosure, the first communication port is a serial port.
[0019] Similarly, the second communication port is a serial port. Moreover, the third communication port is a serial port. It is also cost effective to use a data traffic controller with serial port.
[0020] In an example of the present disclosure, the data traffic controller further comprises a waterproof housing for accommodating the microcontroller and attaching the first, second and third communication ports.
[0021] The housing protects the microcontroller component from being damaged by unfavorable conditions such as water.
[0022] In an example of the present disclosure, the first data comprises sound velocity profile data collected by a sound velocity sensor.
[0023] The sound velocity sensor can therefore be deployed on the towed device which can be for example a sidescan sonar. This allows sound velocity profile data to be collected and transmitted in real-time to the surface vessel. It therefor gets rid of the need of stopping the surveying, recovering and redeploying all of the towed devices.
[0024] In a second aspect of the invention there is provided system for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel, the first sensor and second sensor both communicatively connectable to a towed device communicatively connected to surface vessel. The system comprises:
[0025] - the towed device;
[0026] - the first sensor;
[0027] - the second sensor;
[0028] - the data traffic controller according to any of the first aspect of the present disclosure and arranged on the towed device , wherein
[0029] - the first sensor is connected to the data traffic controller via the first communication port of the data traffic controller;
[0030] - the second sensor is connected to the data traffic controller via the first communication port of the data traffic controller;
[0031] - the third communication port of the data traffic controller is connected to a communication port of the sidescan sonar.
[0032] The system makes use of the data traffic controller and a communication port of the towed device to communicate data collected by both the first and second sensors to the surface vessel. This is realized by connecting the first and second sensors to the input ports of the data traffic controller, having the first and second data multiplexed by the microcontroller of the data traffic controller and then transmitting the connected data to the surface vessel via the communication path between the towed device and the surface vessel.
[0033] In an example of the present disclosure, the first sensor comprises a sound velocity sensor. As for the second sensor, it can comprise a magnetometer. The data collected by both the sound velocity sensor and the magnetometer can be transmitted to the surface vessel at the same time, without introducing additional communication hardware or software.
[0034] In an example of the present disclosure, the first communication port is a serial port.
[0035] Similarly, the second communication port is a serial port. Moreover, the third communication port is a serial port. It is also cost effective to use a data traffic controller with serial port.
[0036] In an example of the present disclosure, the communication medium is a tow cable connecting the towed device to the surface vessel.
[0037] The tow cable connecting for example the towfish to the surface vessel serves multiple purposes, including providing power to the towfish and transmitting data between the towfish and the surface vessel. It can be readily used for communicating the first data from the first sensor to the surface vessel. This does not incur extra cost.
[0038] In an example of the present disclosure, the towed device comprises a sidescan sonar.
[0039] The sidescan sonar is a conventional device used in marine survey and is conveniently used in the implementation of the system of the present disclosure.
[0040] In a third aspect of the invention there is provided use of first data obtained using the system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure by a multibeam echo sounder. The multibeam echo sounder is communicatively connected to the surface vessel, the first sensor is a sound velocity sensor, the first data is sound velocity profile data, the velocity profile data is received by the multibeam echo sounder from the surface vessel for use in conducting surveying using the multibeam echo sounder.
[0041] The above mentioned and other features and advantages of the disclosure will be best understood from the following description referring to the attached drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote identical parts or parts performing an identical or comparable function or operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0043] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a data traffic controller for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0044] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a system for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel.
[0045] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the system of FIG. 2 with connections between the sensors and the data traffic controller. DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Embodiments contemplated by the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the illustrated embodiments are provided by way of example to covey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.
[0047] Figure. 1 schematically illustrates a data traffic controller 10 for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel, in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0048] The data traffic controller 10 comprises a first communication port 11, a second communication port 12 and a third communication port 13, and a microcontroller 14. The first communication port 11 is arranged to receive first data collected by a first sensor. The second communication port 12 is arranged to receive second data collected by a second sensor. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, the first communication port 11 can be connected to the first sensor via for example a cable, thereby receiving the first data collected by the first sensor. The same applies to the second communication port 12.
[0049] The microcontroller 14 is communicatively connected to the first communication port 11 and the second communication port 12 and configured for multiplexing the first data and the second data into multiplexed data. The third communication port communicatively connected to the microcontroller and configured to receive the multiplexed data and transmit the multiplexed data to the surface vessel via a communication medium.
[0050] The first second and third communication ports 11, 12 and 13 can be serial ports, which are more cost effective comparing to parallel ports.
[0051] The data traffic controller 10 further comprises a watertight housing 15, which is arranged to accommodate the microcontroller 14 and to attach or support the first, second and third communication ports 11, 12 and 13.
[0052] The first and second sensors are different type of sensors, which are both communicatively connectable to a towed device connected to the surface vessel and arranged to collect different sensor data. The first data can be for example sound velocity profile data collected by a sound velocity sensor.
[0053] Connections between the first, second and third ports 11, 12, 13 and the microprocessor 14 can be implemented as known to a person skilled in the art and will not be elaborated here.
[0054] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a system 20 for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel.
[0055] The system 20 comprises a towed device 21 which is both physically and communicatively connected to the surface vessel (not shown). The system 20 further comprises a first sensor 22 and a second sensor 23 as well as a data traffic controller 24 described above with reference to Figure 1.
[0056] The towed device 21 can be a sidescan sonar which is deployed underwater during the marine survey. The first sensor 22 can be for example an SVP sensor, which is arrange to obtain sound velocity profiled needed for the marine survey. The second sensor 23 can be a magnetometer or any other sensor that is normally deployed underwater when performing the marine survey.
[0057] Figure 3 schematically illustrates the system 20 with connections between the sensors and the data traffic controller.
[0058] As can be seen from Figure 1, the first sensor 22 is connected 31 to the data traffic controller 24 via the first communication port of the data traffic controller 24, the second sensor 23 is connected 32 to the data traffic controller 24 via the second communication port of the data traffic controller 24; the third communication port of the data traffic controller 24 is connected 33 to a communication port of the sidescan sonar 21.
[0059] A further communication port of the towed device 21, such as the sidescan sonar, is connected 34 to the surface vessel via a towing cable 27 physically and communicatively connecting the towed device 21 to the surface vessel.
[0060] The first data collected by the first sensor 22 and the second data collected by the second sensor 23 are therefore input to the data traffic controller 24. The microcontroller of the data traffic controller 24 has both the first and second data multiplexed. The multiplexed data is then transmitted to the surface vessel by way of the towed device 21 and via the towing cable 27.
[0061] Referring back to Figure 2, the system 20 may further comprise a sensor holder 26 to fix the data traffic controller 24 and the SVP sensor 22 to the towed device 21. Other elements like a tow cable 27 and a towfish interface key 28 are known to those skilled in the art and will not be elaborated here.
[0062] When the second sensor 23 is a magnetometer, a magnetometer sidescan interface cable 25 may be used to connect the magnetometer to the second port of the data traffic controller 24.
[0063] The first data, which is sound velocity data, obtained using the system described above can be communicated from the surface vessel to a multibeam echo sounder communicatively connected to the surface vessel. The velocity profile data is used in conducting surveying using the multibeam echo sounder.
[0064] The present disclosure discloses a simple way of integrating the measurement of the sound velocity data with the measurement performed by other sensors, with little extra cost incurred. By putting a multiplexer on a sidescan with magnetometer, real time SVP data can be obtained.
[0065] The SVP can therefore be obtained in real-time without stopping the surface vessel during the survey. The present disclosure overcomes technical prejudice which has been around for a long time and provides an extremely cost effective way of realising on the fly acquisition of real-time sound velocity and depth, without interrupting the survey.
[0066] The invention has been described by reference to certain embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art.
[0067] Further modifications in addition to those described above may be made to the structures and techniques described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A data traffic controller for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel, the first sensor and second sensor both communicatively connectable to a towed device communicatively connected to the surface vessel, the data traffic controller comprising:- a first communication port for receiving the first data collected by the first sensor;- a second communication port for receiving the second data collected by the second sensor;- a microcontroller communicatively connected to the first communication port and the second communication port and configured for multiplexing the first data and the second data into multiplexed data;- a third communication port communicatively connected to the microcontroller and configured for receiving the multiplexed data and transmitting the multiplexed data to the surface vessel via a communication medium.
2. The data traffic controller according to claim 1, wherein the first communication port is a serial port.
3. The data traffic controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second communication port is a serial port.
4. The data traffic controller according to any of the previous claims, wherein the third communication port is a serial port.
5. The data traffic controller according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a waterproof housing for accommodating the microcontroller and attaching the first, second and third communication ports.
6. The data traffic controller according to any of the previous claims, wherein the first data comprises sound velocity profile data collected by a sound velocity sensor.
7. A system for simultaneously transmitting first data collected by a first sensor and second data connected by a second sensor to a surface vessel, the first sensor and second sensor both communicatively connectable to a towed device communicatively connected to the surface vessel, the system comprising:- the towed device connected to the surface vessel;- the first sensor;- the second sensor;- the data traffic controller according to any of the previous claims 1 to 5 and arranged on the towed device , wherein- the first sensor is connected to the data traffic controller via the first communication port of the data traffic controller;- the second sensor is connected to the data traffic controller via the first communication port of the data traffic controller;- the third communication port of the data traffic controller is connected to a communication port of the towed device.
8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first sensor comprises a sound velocity sensor.
9. The system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second sensor comprises a magnetometer.
10. The system according to any of previous claims 7 to 9, wherein the first communication port is a serial port.
11. The system according to any of previous claims 7 to 10, wherein the second communication port is a serial port.
12. The system according to any of previous claims 7 to 11, wherein the third communication port is a serial port.
13. The system according to any of previous claims 7 to 12, wherein the communication medium is a tow cable connecting the towed device to the surface vessel.
14. The system according to any of previous claims 7 to 13, wherein the towed device comprises a sidescan sonar.
15. Use, by a multibeam echo sounder, of first data obtained using the system according to any of the previous claims 7 to 14, the multibeam echo sounder being communicatively connected to the surface vessel, wherein the first sensor is a sound velocity sensor, the first data is sound velocity profile data, wherein, the velocity profile data is received by the multibeam echo sounder from the surface vessel for use in conducting surveying using the multibeam echo sounder.