Norbit iWBMS
Wideband Multibeam Sonar with Integrated INS
Description
The NORBIT iWBMS is a turnkey wideband multibeam sonar system for high-resolution bathymetry, built around a compact curved-array sonar. An Applanix WaveMaster II GNSS/INS is embedded in the unit together with an integrated NTRIP client, and data acquisition is supported by the NORBIT Data Collection Tool (DCT).
The NORBIT iWBMS operates at a nominal frequency of 400 kHz with frequency agility from 200 to 700 kHz and 80 kHz bandwidth, giving acoustic range resolution below 10 mm. The flexible swath sector is 5–210°, with shallow water IHO Special Order coverage above 155°. It forms 256–512 beams (EA and ED), pings at up to 60 Hz (adaptive) and covers a depth range of 0.2–275 m, or more than 300 m with the 0.9° × 0.9° option.
Standard beam resolution (across × along) is 0.9° × 1.9° at 400 kHz and 0.5° × 1.0° at 700 kHz. Heading accuracy is 0.03° (RTK) with 2 m antenna separation, pitch/roll accuracy is 0.02° independent of antenna separation, and heave accuracy is 2 cm or 2 % (TrueHeave) and 5 cm or 5 % in real time. The datasheet states that the system exceeds IHO Special Order, CHS Exclusive Order and USACE New Work.
The sonar weighs 8.5 kg in air and 3.5 kg in water, the wet end is rated to 100 m, and the topside is IP67. It connects over Ethernet with an 8 m standard cable (2 m, 25 m and 50 m optional) and consumes 60 W from 10–28 VDC or 110–240 VAC. Listed features include roll stabilisation, backscatter outputs (intensity, sidescan, sidescan snippets, snippets, water column), multidetect, FM and CW processing, an integrated sound velocity probe, hydrodynamic fairing and an included mounting bracket.