Technology Groups > Marine Sensors And Electronics > Facilities

The development of underwater acoustic sensors for Oceanographic applications like Echo Sounders, Sub bottom Profilers and long range underwater communications was taken up and were successfully developed and tested. Interaction between public sector organizations in the development of underwater acoustic sensors of mutual interest was also initiated by the group. Development of electro-acoustic transducers for Echo-sounding {30-45 kHz, 200 kHz} and acoustic sub-bottom profiling application {2-16kHz} was successfully carried out. High power broadband technology development based on PZT has been undertaken. Marine Transducers were developed using indigenous active and passive materials. One of the major breakthrough is the development of portable{~15kg}, high power {1-2kW} broadband{2-16kHz}acoustic transmitter optimized for sub bottom profiling applications. Fig:13 shows the prototype version of the 200kHz transceiver. Fig:14 shows the light weight, high power (1-2kW), wide band (2-16kHz) transmitter developed by the group for acoustic sub-bottom profiling application. Typical Transmitting Voltage Response (TVR) of the transmitter is shown in Fig:14 a. A feasibility study on the development of miniaturized class V flextensional transducers (microsensors/CYMBALS) for future oceanographic and Naval application has been carried out under research project sponsored by NSTL, Vizhakapatanam.  Under this join development program,. 3x 3 Cymbal arrays of various dimensions have been successfully developed and tested in the laboratory.  A facility for the rapid manufacturing of cymbal caps of various dimensions has been established. The operating frequencies can be varied from 3 to 150kHz depending on the dimensions of the cymbal transducers using indigenous materials.Fig:15 shows typical cymbal arrays developed so far. Further work is under progress.

200 kHz Echo sounder transducer

These microsensors are suitable for the realization of conformal arrays to be used in a ship hull or submarines or in an acoustic homing torpedo and arte highly advantageous compared to the conventional tonpilz transducer technology.  These microsensors belong to the class V flextensional generate and receive signals from a few kHz to 100 kHz. Larger arrays can be made for various specific naval as well as civilian oceanographic purposes in future.  The NSTL project has been completed successfully.

3 X 3 Convex Cymbal Arrays potted in Polyurethane

Photograph of 2-16 kHz, 2kW Sub-bottom profiler transmitter

Transmitting Voltage Response (TVR) of the ASP transmitter

The group activities has attracted the public sector industries like Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bangalore. NIOT has signed an MoU with BEL for the development of electro acoustic transducers of mutual interest and for production by BEL through Transfer of Technology (ToT) in the long run.