: Technical Specification

Key Features
Easytrak : Accurate and stable
: Lightweight and truly portable
Easytrak is an Ultra Short Baseline (USBL) underwater
: Easy to operate
positioning and tracking system centred on a multi-element,
: Tracks on the horizontal
single transducer that transmits and receives acoustic signals to : Approved for military use
dynamic subsea targets, from which range, bearing and depth
information can be determined.

Developed to meet the ever increasing demands for a highly

efficient location device which is truly portable, straightforward
to use and extremely stable, Easytrak offers a multitude of
benefits for a wide range of marine positioning applications
which include diver, ROV, AUV and towfish tracking,
instrumentation positioning and release.

Easytrak has rapidly developed a sound

reputation for use in commercial, military and
environmental research situations where both
accuracy and versatility are stipulated.

Applied Acoustic Engineering Ltd T +44(0)1493 440355

Marine House, Marine Park F +44(0)1493 440720
Gapton Hall Road E [email protected]
Great Yarmouth NR31 0NB W www.appliedacoustics.com
United Kingdom
: Technical Specification - Easytrak

Operation straight out of the box

Easytrak is a complete system which consists of a transducer deployed in the water over the side
of the vessel or quayside; a cable, available in a choice of standard lengths and able to support the
weight of the transducer on its own, and either the Easytrak Portable console complete with
display screen and keyboard, or an Easytrak Lite box, which connects to a PC via a USB cable. The
system is completed by one of Applied Acoustics’ beacons attached to the target object, though
up to 4 individually identified subsea targets can be displayed simultaneously. At every stage both
the equipment itself and the accompanying software interface has been designed to be
user-friendly and uncomplicated, even for a relatively inexperienced user, so that operation can
proceed very efficiently and with confidence.

With calibration being carried out at the factory before despatch, operations can begin as soon as
the beacon is in the water when Easytrak’s colour TFT display will instantly show range and
bearing. Easytrak can also calculate the beacon’s position when on the water surface, which is ideal
for floating targets.

Single Transducer Assembly

Easytrak’s speed of use is possible because it is an Ultra Short BaseLine (USBL) system, which
features an array of receiving transducers, mounted in the single transducer assembly.
Measurements are related to this one assembly. Phase measurements between elements within
the assembly are converted to bearing measurements and range is calculated from the time taken
for the acoustic signals to travel through the water. The depression angle, the angle down from the
horizontal, is also measured when the beacon is below the surface.

The transmit and receive elements within the transducer are positioned in such a way as to allow
tracking at very shallow depression angles as well as along a horizontal path. Other systems such
as Short BaseLine (SBL) and Long BaseLine (LBL) require a number of transducers or transponders
to be deployed and their relative positions calibrated before work starts, which can delay
operations and add to mobilisation time and system complexity.

Flexibility
The flexibility of the Easytrak design allows it to detect a variety of underwater targets and beacon
types. These include Pingers, which transmit a single pulse and are often used as emergency
markers, Responders linked by cable to the tracking system and triggered by an electric pulse,
and Transponders which are the most commonly used target devices. Once in the water, a
transponder will ‘listen’ until interrogated by a specific acoustic signal from the transducer. It then
replies with a different one, allowing its location and position to be determined. In addition,
Instrumentation Transponders can transmit back information such as depth, height above seabed,
temperature or tilt.

Due to continual product improvement, specification information may be

subject to change without notice.

© Applied Acoustic Engineering Limited/Easytrak/November 2008

: Technical Specification - Easytrak

The range obtained with any underwater beacons in the same frequency range from
acoustic system will depend on the other manufacturers.
background noise and other conditions such as Two commercial versions of the Easytrak
water aeration, which can attenuate the signals system are available; the Portable which
severely, and possible ray bending where the includes a display screen and keyboard housed
sound pulse bends due to refraction caused by in a splash proof enclosure - and the Lite, which
different temperature layers in the water. For carries out the same functions while utilising
example, one of Applied Acoustics’ 219 Micro the operator’s own laptop or vessel based PC.
beacons will operate to around 500 metres in
In addition, a military version of the Easytrak
reasonable conditions and a 919 Mini beacon
Lite has been developed to operate inside the
will operate to around 1000 metres. Higher
Operations Room of a Naval vessel.
source levels (signal levels) will result in longer
ranges. Accuracy will depend on the quality of Options and upgrades allow operators to mix
the installation, signal reception and noise and match component parts to create a
levels. Integral pitch, roll and heading sensors suitable system for specific applications.
compensate for vessel movement and serial
ports on the Easytrak console allow it to
interface with gyros and accurate vertical
reference units (VRU’s) for higher positional
accuracy. A further GPS input allows for latitude
and longitude corrected co-ordinates of the
target beacon or beacons.

Applied Acoustics’ choice of positioning and

release beacons for use with Easytrak is one of
the most extensive available from any
manufacturer. Designed for the variety of
challenging tasks during subsea operations,
each beacon combines durability with ease of
use. For added versatility, Easytrak can also track

DIVER WITH 219 MICRO BEACON ROV WITH 919 MINI BEACON

Due to continual product improvement, specification information may be

subject to change without notice.

© Applied Acoustic Engineering Limited/Easytrak/November 2008

: Technical Specification - Easytrak

2650 Easytrak Portable

Easytrak Portable consists of a yellow marine-grade splash proof console containing all the
electronics for the USBL system including receive amplifiers, transmitter, digital signal
processing and navigation computer and display. A built in power supply allows operation away
from an AC power supply for 3 to 4 hours.

The user interface consists of a number of illuminated keys on the panel, plus on-screen
information from the bright TFT display. Transmit and receive LED’s are further visual confirmation.
Audio monitoring of signals is also available via an integral loudspeaker or headphone jack.

Serial connectors allow the integration of a GPS receiver, external motion sensors, gyrocompass
and a data-out port for use with navigation packages. Also included are an Ethernet port, allowing
a remote user PC to display the tracking data, plus a USB mouse port.

The TFT display consists of two parts; an auto-scaling Position Display and an area for data to be read
and entered, the Text Panel.

The Position Display can be shown with polar or rectangular scaling with colour coded targets to
indicate signal strength.

Operation is menu-driven and operates on a Windows CE platform with default settings

pre-programmed.

EASYTRAK SCREEN

EASYTRAK

Due to continual product improvement, specification information may be

subject to change without notice.

© Applied Acoustic Engineering Limited/Easytrak/November 2008

: Technical Specification - Easytrak

2660 Easytrak Lite

Easytrak Lite incorporates all of the features of the Easytrak Portable system, but has been
designed for a more permanent installation in a vessel’s Operations Room or dry laboratory. The
main transmit and receive electronics power supply and digital signal processing (DSP) hardware
have all been mounted within a rugged enclosure for connection to a laptop or desktop PC.
Connection is by serial cable (via supplied usb adapter), with the system software provided on CD.
The operational performance is identical to the Portable unit, the only additional requirement
being a suitable PC with a 1.2 GHz processor running Windows XP. This configuration eliminates
the need for the integral keyboard and display screen, thereby reducing the system cost to the
end user.

Easytrak Transducers
The ETM902C is a rugged transducer designed for deployment from moon-pool, gate valve or over
the side of a vessel. Designed to be specifically small and relatively heavy, the transducer is ideal
when deployed on a cable. At just 100mm in diameter, each unit uses multiple receive transducer
elements and one transmit element along with receive amplifiers. This innovative design
configuration allows accurate range and bearing calculations, both at depth and along a
horizontal path.

The ETM902C transducer has a built-in pitch and roll sensor to compensate for vessel movement
as well as a magnetic compass for heading calculations. It also has transducer calibration
information stored inside, so that on connection Easytrak, either the Portable or the Lite, can
upload the calibration parameters of the transducer to ensure optimal accuracy in minimum time.

For static applications, the transducer can be supplied without the compass and pitch + roll
sensor installed.

The compact yet relatively heavy design of the transducers follows R&D trials to determine the
best solution for portability, ease of deployment, stability in use and general robustness.
It is these features, combined with its operational characteristics that give the Applied Acoustics’
transducer a valuable advantage.

2660 EASYTRAK LITE EASYTRAK TRANSDUCER

Due to continual product improvement, specification information may be

subject to change without notice.

© Applied Acoustic Engineering Limited/Easytrak/November 2008

: Technical Specification - Easytrak

MODEL 2650 PORTABLE

Dimensions 400 x 330 x 190 mm

Weight air/water 6 kg / floats on water
IP Rating Sealed when closed - IP67. Splash proof - IP65 rated when open
Serial Communications 3+ 1 RS-232
Power requirements 90 – 250 VAC at 80 VA. DC options
Audio Output 0.5 watt into internal loudspeaker or headphones
Battery Life 3 - 4 hours from built-in battery pack
Display Colour TFT VGA display
Keypad 21 key membrane keypad with backlight
Ethernet Allows optional remote monitoring software to be run on separate PC
USB Connects to a USB mouse
MODEL 2660 LITE

Size 265 x 240 x 120 mm

Serial communications RS-232. USB to RS-232 adaptors available
Power requirements 90 – 250 VAC at 50 VA
PC requirements (minimum) 1.2 GHz running Windows XP. USB or up to 3 x RS-232 port. Colour
display, 1024 x 768. CD Rom drive.
DATA FORMATS

Data Output AAE format, TP-2EC TP-EC W/PR, Simrad 300P, Simrad 309 (binary)
$PSIMSSB, $PSIMSNS (One string after the other for each fix)
$GPRMC (Suitable for Coda Octopus 460P and others)
KLEIN 3000, $GPGGA and $GPVTG (Lite only)
Compass Input TCM-2.X ,SGB-HTDS , SGB-HTDt, $HEHDT, $HDHDM, $HDHDT, $HDHDG
VRU Input TCM-2.X, $HCXDR , TSS1
GPS / DGPS Input NMEA; GLL, GGA, RMC
Sync. Input T TL type 5 volt pulse. Triggers on rising edge
Responder Output Positive 12v pulse 5 mS long

TRANSDUCER OPTIONS

(Aluminium-Bronze transducer. May be tilted by 20 degrees for towfish tracking)

Transducer; ETM902 & ETM902C 375 mm long x 100 mm diameter

Weight in air/water 9.5kg / 7 kg
Depth Rating 50 metres
(Note: ETM902C has compass fitted)

TRANSDUCER CABLE EZT-DC xx

Diameter 12.8 mm nominal

Colour Yellow
Length (xx) 20 – 60 metres standard lengths available
Connectors Supplied. Connects ETM transducers to 2650/2660 Easytrak systems
SWL 20 kg (Allows transducer to be deployed from cable)

Due to continual product improvement, specification information may be

subject to change without notice.

© Applied Acoustic Engineering Limited/Easytrak/November 2008

: Technical Specification - Easytrak

ACCURACY/PERFORMANCE

(Accuracy is based on the correct speed of sound being entered, no ray bending and an acceptable S/N ratio)

Slant Range accuracy 10 cm. (Accuracy dependent on correct speed of sound)

Position accuracy standard 1.40º drms. 2.5% of slant range
Position accuracy (high accuracy system) 0.60º drms. 1.0% of slant range
(Acoustic accuracy excluding heading errors)
Bearing Resolution 0.1º displayed. Internally calculated to 0.01º
Heading sensor accuracy 0.8º rms standard; +/- 0.1 degree resolution/repeatability
Pitch/Roll sensor accuracy +/- 0.20º rms +/- 0.1º resolution/repeatability
Channels 4 channels displayed from 134 stored
Frequency Band (MF) Reception 22 - 32 kHz
Transmission 17 – 26 kHz
Tracking Beam Pattern > Hemispherical
Beacon Types Transponders, Responders and Pingers
Interrogation Rate 0.5 – 30 seconds or external key
Transmit Power 178/185/190 dB software controlled.
CE Marking Externally assessed for immunity and emissions; conforms to 89/336/EEC

Due to continual product improvement, specification information may be

subject to change without notice.

© Applied Acoustic Engineering Limited/Easytrak/November 2008