Equipped with environmental sensors, multi-aperture sonar, and a rapidly replaced data storage module and battery, the Bluefin-9 delivers data when you need it – and gets back in the water within minutes.
The Bluefin-9’s tightly integrated commercial off-the-shelf sensors deliver best-in-class imagery and collect bathymetric and environmental data, including data on water currents, temperature, salinity and turbidity. Designed for detailed hydrographic surveys, the Bluefin-9 is outfitted with Sonardyne Solstice Multi-Aperture Sonar (MAS) that provides high-resolution imagery even in littoral waters.
Bluefin-9 Environmental Sensing Suite
The Environmental Sensing Suite
The Bluefin-9 UUV is configured with a robust suite of integrated environmental sensors.
Sound Velocity, Water Temperature & Salinity
The integrated Valeport UV-SVP Sound Velocity Sensor provides direct measurement of sound velocity, water temperature and ambient water pressure. These measurements are used in the Post-Mission Analysis (PMA) to compute water salinity and conductivity, using known ocean models.
Turbidity & Chlorophyll-A Concentration
The integrated Sea-Bird Scientific ECO Pucks (Fluorometer and Turbidity (FLNTU) configuration) measures both chlorophyll-a and water turbidity.
Water Current
The Nortek Doppler Velocity Log (DVL) on the Bluefin-9 is capable of calculating the water current direction and speed near the vehicle, like an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The DVL on the Bluefin-9 collects and provides current profiles extending from the vehicle to the seafloor, or to maximum range of the DVL.
Seafloor Optical Camera
A still image of lobster pot captured by Bluefin-9’s integrated machine-vision-grade monochrome camera
The Bluefin-9’s Seafloor Optical Camera is optimized for low-light operation and captures still images at up to 3.2 megapixels or Full High-definition video. The monochrome camera delivers lower noise and higher overall image quality in a low-light subsea environment. Lighting provided by an LED floodlight can be turned on and off for relevant portions of a mission. All captured images are time-referenced for post-mission processing and analysis.