ASN, with an existing installed base of over 800 thousand kilometers of optical submarine cables worldwide, selected RBR as a leader in precision environmental sensors with a proven track record of over 50 years. A specialized team at RBR worked closely with ASN engineers to develop and refine the simplicity of the system provided, which is based on their well-proven BPR|zero technology.
The custom variant of the existing BPR|zero, intended for submarine cable usage, has been miniaturized and also ruggedized in order to handle the extreme environment experienced during normal cable-laying ship deployments. The system is intended to be housed adjacent to a normal repeater housing and used with a simplified interface with a minimal command set.
All components are tested to far greater than normal operating cycles, given the intended harsh deployment conditions and 25-year undersea life requirement, but still provide the same A-zero-A drift correction as the elder sibling whose output has a resolution of 10ppb (1 Hz sampling period) and is, therefore, suitable for tsunami monitoring and subsidence detection.
Greg Johnson, President of RBR, stated: “This is another example where the proven technology and in-house expertise of the team at RBR, leads to innovative and comprehensive solutions for our end clients. Working closely with the team at ASN during development has been key in the successful outcome of the first phase of the project, and we look forward to this collaboration developing further to deliver additional SMART solutions.”
ASN is contracted to design, manufacture, and deploy two pioneering SMART cable projects with deployment scheduled for 2026. These SMART cable systems will not only enhance underwater data connectivity but also provide critical real-time monitoring of seismic, tsunami, and environmental events.
