Blue Robotics Ping Sonar – RS Aqua

The Blue Robotics Ping Sonar Altimeter & Echosounder is a multipurpose single-beam echosounder. It can be used as an altimeter for ROVs and AUVs like the BlueROV2, for bathymetry work aboard a USV, as an obstacle avoidance sonar, and for other underwater distance measurement applications.

An echosounder, like the Ping, is one of the simplest forms of underwater sonars. It operates by using a piezoelectric transducer to send an ultrasonic acoustic pulse into the water and then listens back for echoes to return. This enables it to determine the distance to the strongest echo, which is usually the ocean floor or a large object. It can also provide the full echo response (echo strength versus time) which can be plotted like the display of a fishfinder sonar.

Key Features

•   Compact but powerful – Measuring a max diameter of only 48 mm, Ping is depth-rated up to 300 m and features an open-source user interface and Arduino, C++, and Python development libraries

•   Purpose built – Using a 115 kHz transducer frequency, avoiding interference with most boat echo sounders. It measures in a range of 50 m and has a 30 degree beamwidth, perfect for rocking boats or obstacle avoidance. And if that doesn’t cut it, it also features an advanced algorithm for bottom-tracking which determines the distance to the seafloor, even in complicated situations.

•   Rugged Design – Housed in a hard-anodized aluminum enclosure with an encapsulated transducer and a 1 meter (3.3 feet) cable with a pre-installed WetLink Penetrator

•   Easy connection – The included header pin to JST-GH adapter makes it easy to plug into the USB to Serial and RS485 Adapter. Through the adapter, the Ping can be connected to a microcontroller device, such as an Arduino, or to a computer.

Once connected, it is recommended to get started with Ping-Viewer, an open-source application developed specifically for Ping devices. Ping-Viewer runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and makes it easy to view the output, record data, and change settings on the Ping. The Ping sonar can be connected to Ping-Viewer directly or over a network connection routed through the BlueROV2‘s Companion web interface, so that you can use the Ping on the ROV without using any additional wires in the tether.

For more on the Ping sonar, including user forums, technical guides, and code examples please visit the Blue Robotics website.