A Complete Inspection and Positioning System that Rivals all other ROVs: Desert Star and VideoRay

VideoRay and Desert Star have teamed up to market the Desert Star PILOT System and the AquaMap ShipHull positioning systems. Together, VideoRay and Desert Star build a total system for accurate navigation and searching -- regardless of visibility -- to locate and remove underwater objects including treasure, ordinance, or bodies. Desert Star systems are now available through VideoRay for $6000--(USD) by far the most affordable cost for a highly accurate positioning system in the marine industry. Now, this total system is more accessible for homeland security agencies protecting and inspecting coastlines, piers, and ships.

About the Desert Star PILOT Positioning System
Smaller than a soda can and weighing even less, the transponder is simply plugged in to any VideoRay Pro III. The transponder works with three “over the side” transducers placed in the water. A surface station (with Windows operating system) computer running DiveBase positioning software supports the navigation by retrieving and displaying positioning information relative to the transducers.

Practical for Search, Survey, and Inspection
With the integration of Desert Star positioning, the VideoRay becomes a practical search, survey, and inspection tool with multiple positioning capabilities. The PILOT short baseline (SBL) system provides reliable tracking data for ROV navigation and sea floor searches. Tracking data can be either ship relative, or in a latitude/longitude framework with ROV position shown against the background of a chart.

Unique Functionality Exceeds High-Cost Systems
Beyond the Desert Star system, only high-end positioning systems that cost well above $100,000 (USD) provide multiple modes of operation, which is critical for law enforcement, military, and rescue operations. Among low cost systems, Desert Star is unique in its ability to offer multiple modes, so the operator can switch between various operations without a change to the equipment. For example, a law enforcement team might use VideoRay to inspect a ship hull for contraband. Desert Star PILOT quickly scans the sea floor in search of evidence, followed by a sub-meter precision AquaMap survey once signs of evidence are located. AquaMap ShipHull was developed during several years of ship hull inspection research for the US Navy and private companies.

These Desert Star system configurations are available for the VideoRay Pro Series:

• AquaMap Shiphull makes VideoRay a capable and efficient tool for the inspection of ship hulls, dams and other vertical structures.
  
  Visibility in harbors is normally poor, making a good positioning capability critical to perform quality work. The system can use any computer scanned ship plan. It shows the ROV against starboard and port side views and a bottom view of the vessel. A variable width position trace is set to reflect the visibility. Move along to ‘paint’ the hull, documenting the coverage of your search. Return to any desired spot on the hull quickly and with confidence. Use the annotation function to record observations. Create any number of views of your survey for the survey report.

  AquaMap Shiphull setup is simple. Define the location of four baseline stations (two on port and two on starboard) by clicking on points on your scanned chart. On site, just lower four baseline stations over the side of the ship to a few feet below keel depth. An automatic baseline survey will verify that actual and entered positions correspond. You are now ready to start your survey.
  
  Test drive ShipHull (797 KB pdf)
  

• PILOT is an easy to use general-purpose tracking system for VideoRay. It can be set up within minutes on any ship or dock. The basic PILOT system yields ship-relative positions, similar to a RADAR display. By upgrading the standard DiveBase-R software to DiveBase Level 2, and integrating GPS and a heading sensor, PILOT can operate in a latitude/longitude framework. DiveBase Level 2 supports chart overlays and export of tracking data to other computers or applications. The DiveBase Level 2 software also supports the tracking of up to ten transponder-equipped targets. Rather than just tracking the ROV, transponders can also be mounted on divers, on the claw of a construction crane, or on specific underwater reference points.
  
  VideoRay has redesigned its float block to integrate the Desert Star PILOT system, which affords accuracy well below one meter with directional accuracy at +/- 0.6 degrees with 40 foot transducer spacing. The float block improvements not only accommodate the system but also improve buoyancy and thrust.
  
  
• GPS Integration for PILOT
  The basic PILOT system shows the position of VideoRay in a RADAR style fashion relative to the boat or dock. This is great for general tracking. However, when you need to survey a site, it is time to upgrade your system. By combining the acoustic positioning data with GPS fixes of the boat and a boat mounted heading sensor, PILOT computes the position of the ROV in latitude and longitude. That position is shown against the backdrop of a chart. Any digital or scanned chart or drawing can be used. PILOT even exports ROV position data, so you can readily interface to your ship’s charting or GIS system. Data is exported in standard NMEA-0183 format, establishing compatibility with virtually any GIS and charting platform.
  
  
• Universal Positioning System
  When your job demands versatility, consider this top-of-the-line all-purpose acoustic positioning system. AquaMap Universe provides a collection of advanced capabilities that satisfy virtually any requirement:

  • Use the PILOT short-baseline capability for general tracking of VideoRay. PILOT is quickly deployed, and shows ROV position either relative to the ship, or against the backdrop of a chart in latitude/longitude coordinates. The system can even export ROV position data to external charting or GIS systems.
  • When requiring ultimate precision survey data of a patch of sea floor, use the AquaMap ROV long-baseline capability. Deploy three or four baseline stations in the corners of your survey area, and you will be able to follow precise search patterns and measure positions with an accuracy down to 0.15 meters.
  • On ship hulls, dams, oil platforms and other vertical structures, rely on AquaMap ShipHull. This specialized long baseline configuration provides both side and bottom views of the hull or structure. Position fixes have a quality down to 0.15 meters, and in fact current position quality is always displayed. Setup is fast, making this an ideal system for effective work around hulls in turbid harbor waters.

  One system. One learning curve. One set of equipment. One coherent data set. Unlike any other system, AquaMap Universe opens the world of underwater work to your VideoRay ROV.

View chart of required equipment

Training and Integration Services for Success
Desert Star recommends training and system integration services. Preferably on-site, the support team can help integrate the tracking system, GPS receiver, heading sensor and a multi-port serial card to overcome inherent integration issues and ensure smooth operations. A two-day training course on operations is highly recommended. For more information, read the In-Depth Information Access at http://www.desertstar.com/newsite/positioning/pilot/pilot.html.

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