Sonardyne Sprint-Nav Navigation Systems For Sale

The Sonardyne SPRINT-Nav family provides integrated acoustic-inertial navigation for subsea vehicles, surface vehicles and marine robotic platforms.

Each SPRINT-Nav combines the functions normally provided by several separate navigation instruments. Depending on the model, the system integrates an inertial navigation system, attitude and heading reference system, Doppler velocity log and pressure sensor within a single housing.

By tightly integrating the raw inertial, acoustic, velocity and depth measurements, SPRINT-Nav can provide continuous position, orientation, velocity, altitude and depth information when GNSS is unavailable or unreliable.

The family includes four principal products:

SPRINT-Nav: the flagship deep-rated system for ROVs, AUVs, resident vehicles and demanding survey operations.

SPRINT-Nav M: a smaller system for compact ROVs, AUVs and general marine robotic applications.

SPRINT-Nav U: an ultra-compact navigator for small robotic platforms with restricted payload capacity.

SPRINT-Nav DP: a surface-vessel position reference designed for dynamic positioning in shallow-water or GNSS-degraded environments.

SPRINT-Nav instruments are supplied pre-calibrated and use a common navigation architecture, allowing users to select the physical size and performance level appropriate to their platform without assembling separate sensors from multiple manufacturers.

Integrated Hybrid Navigation

A conventional vehicle-navigation package may require a separate inertial navigation system, Doppler velocity log, pressure sensor, attitude sensor and associated cabling. The SPRINT-Nav family integrates these functions into a single instrument.

This reduces the number of subsea housings, connectors and interfaces that must be installed on the vehicle. It also allows the sensor data to be combined internally rather than relying entirely on integration within the vehicle control or survey software.

Typical outputs include:

– Position
– Heading
– Roll and pitch
– Vehicle velocity
– Depth
– Altitude above the seabed
– Heave
– DVL data
– Optional ADCP data on supported configurations

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Choosing the Right SPRINT-Nav

The four products share the same general hybrid-navigation concept but are intended for different vehicle sizes and operating requirements.

Product	Typical Platform	Principal Use	Select This Model When
SPRINT-Nav	Work-class ROV, survey ROV, AUV, resident vehicle or larger USV	High-performance subsea navigation, survey and construction	Navigation accuracy, deep-water operation and survey performance are the primary requirements.
SPRINT-Nav M	Compact ROV, AUV, USV or towfish	General marine robotic navigation in a smaller package	The platform has less payload capacity than a work-class vehicle but still requires a complete hybrid navigator.
SPRINT-Nav U	Small ROV, micro-AUV, compact USV or lightweight towfish	Navigation for platforms with restricted space, weight and power	Installing a conventional INS and DVL package would consume too much of the available payload.
SPRINT-Nav DP	Surface vessel using a dynamic-positioning system	Independent vessel position reference in shallow water	A DP vessel needs a position reference that does not rely on continuous GNSS or deployed seabed targets.

Final product selection should consider platform size, operating depth, mission duration, required navigation accuracy, seabed altitude, available power and integration requirements.

SPRINT-Nav Family Comparison

Product	Typical Survey Performance	Maximum DVL Altitude	Depth Rating	Primary Application
SPRINT-Nav I / S / X	0.03%, 0.02% or 0.01%	175 m standard or 230 m high-altitude option	4,000 or 6,000 m	High-performance ROV, AUV and subsea survey navigation
SPRINT-Nav M	0.05%	200 m	300, 1,000 or 4,000 m	Compact and medium-sized marine robotic platforms
SPRINT-Nav U	0.1%	100 m	1,000 m	Small ROVs, AUVs, towfish and weight-limited platforms
SPRINT-Nav DP	0.04% during dynamic movement; less than 2 m station keeping over 24 hours	200 m	100 m	GNSS-independent position reference for DP vessels

The performance figures are not directly interchangeable between every platform or operating mode. Vehicle size, mission duration, water depth, seabed altitude, required survey accuracy and available interfaces should all be considered during selection.

SPRINT-Nav

SPRINT-Nav is Sonardyne’s flagship hybrid acoustic-inertial navigation system, designed for high-precision subsea positioning, guidance and survey operations.

Combining a survey-grade inertial navigation system (INS), Syrinx Doppler Velocity Log (DVL), pressure sensor and attitude reference system into a single titanium housing, SPRINT-Nav delivers continuous navigation performance for ROVs, AUVs, resident vehicles and other advanced subsea platforms operating where GNSS is unavailable.

Unlike traditional navigation solutions requiring multiple independent instruments, SPRINT-Nav integrates all major navigation sensors into a factory-calibrated system. This reduces installation complexity while improving the consistency and accuracy of the navigation solution through tightly coupled sensor fusion.

The flagship model is available in three performance grades, allowing users to select the level of navigation accuracy required for their application without changing the overall hardware platform.

Model	Typical Applications	Designed For
SPRINT-Nav I	General ROV navigation, inspection, intervention and routine survey work.	Operators requiring dependable hybrid navigation for day-to-day offshore operations.
SPRINT-Nav S	Hydrographic survey, multibeam sonar, laser scanning and offshore construction.	Applications demanding improved navigation accuracy for high-quality survey data.
SPRINT-Nav X	Long-endurance AUV missions, defence, scientific research and the highest-accuracy survey applications.	Users requiring Sonardyne’s highest-performance hybrid navigation capability.

All three variants support external aiding from GNSS, USBL and LBL positioning systems and are available with either a standard 625 kHz DVL or optional 375 kHz high-altitude DVL. Systems are offered with 4,000 m or 6,000 m depth ratings and can be configured with optional ADCP capability for simultaneous current profiling.

SPRINT-Nav M

SPRINT-Nav M is a compact hybrid acoustic-inertial navigator for observation-class ROVs, light work-class ROVs, AUVs, USVs and other medium-sized marine platforms.

It combines inertial sensors, a 500 kHz Syrinx DVL with optional ADCP capability and a high-accuracy pressure sensor in one integrated housing.

SPRINT-Nav M provides a middle ground between the flagship SPRINT-Nav and the smaller SPRINT-Nav U. It offers greater depth-rating and interface flexibility than the U while remaining considerably smaller and lighter than the flagship system.

Three depth-rated versions are available: 300 m, 1,000 m and 4,000 m. A low-height, side-connector configuration is also available for vehicles where vertical clearance is limited.

Detailed Overview

SPRINT-Nav M uses Sonardyne’s hybrid navigation architecture to combine raw inertial, Doppler velocity, depth and external aiding information.

The integrated DVL measures velocity relative to the seabed when bottom lock is available. These measurements constrain inertial drift and allow the system to provide continuous position, velocity, altitude and orientation outputs.

The system can continue producing stable navigation information during short interruptions to DVL bottom lock. External position updates from GNSS or USBL can also be used to constrain the navigation solution.

SPRINT-Nav M is intended for platforms requiring survey-grade navigation without the size, weight or power consumption of the full-size SPRINT-Nav.

Typical Platforms

– Observation-class ROVs
– Light work-class ROVs
– Compact and medium-sized AUVs
– Uncrewed surface vessels
– Manned submersibles
– Diver navigation boards
– Compact survey and inspection platforms

Depth and Connector Options

The 300 m version uses a POM-C housing and is offered with side-mounted connectors. This arrangement reduces the instrument height to 187 mm, excluding the additional width of the side connector.

The 1,000 m and 4,000 m versions use titanium housings and standard top-mounted connectors.

Optional ADCP Function

The 500 kHz DVL can also provide optional ADCP measurements. This allows water velocity profiles to be collected alongside the navigation data without installing a separate current profiler.

ADCP capability is an optional upgrade and should be specified when the system is ordered.

Vehicle Integration

SPRINT-Nav M supports Ethernet, serial communications, timing signals and industry-standard output messages. A browser-based interface is provided for configuration, system status and diagnostics.

The system is factory calibrated internally. Installation still requires the correct vehicle mounting offsets and orientation to be entered into the configuration.

System Features

– Integrated INS, AHRS, DVL and pressure sensor
– 500 kHz Syrinx DVL
– Optional ADCP functionality
– 0.3–200 m published bottom-track altitude range
– Typical DVL-aided survey performance of 0.05% of distance travelled
– True-north-seeking gyrocompass
– Heading unaffected by nearby ferrous materials
– Continuous navigation outputs at rates up to 200 Hz
– Stable output during short DVL acoustic interruptions
– Alignment in less than five minutes with DVL aiding
– Factory calibrated
– 300 m, 1,000 m and 4,000 m depth-rated options
– Low-height 300 m side-connector version
– Ethernet and three RS-232 interfaces
– Two configurable trigger inputs or outputs
– 64 GB internal data storage
– Web-based configuration interface
– Modern vehicle-integration API
– Internal backup battery for brief power interruptions
– Not controlled under ITAR

Technical Specifications

Specification	SPRINT-Nav M
Typical DVL-aided survey performance	0.05% of distance travelled
DVL-aided distance from origin	0.2%
DVL operating altitude	0.3–200 m
USBL and DVL precision improvement	Up to 5×
Heading with GNSS or USBL and DVL	0.08° secant latitude
Heading with GNSS, USBL or DVL	0.12° secant latitude
Roll and pitch	0.02°
Angular-rate range	±450°/s
Velocity precision	Below 0.4 cm/s at vehicle speeds below 2 m/s and 50 m altitude
Pressure-sensor precision	0.01% full scale
Pressure-sensor accuracy	0.05% full scale
DVL frequency	500 kHz
Maximum DVL ping rate	10 Hz
Optional ADCP profiling range	0.4–100 m
ADCP along-beam velocity range	Up to ±6.7 m/s
ADCP velocity RMS	±0.4% of measured value
Maximum ADCP cells	255
Maximum ADCP ping rate	4 Hz
Power requirement	24 VDC, 10 W nominal
Internal storage	64 GB
Serial interfaces	Three RS-232 ports
Other interfaces	Ethernet, UDP/TCP, WebUI, two trigger inputs/outputs, NTP, ZDA and 1PPS output
Depth ratings	300 m, 1,000 m or 4,000 m
Housing construction	300 m: POM-C 1,000 m and 4,000 m: titanium
1,000 m dimensions	148 mm diameter × 206 mm high, including connectors
4,000 m dimensions	148 mm diameter × 213 mm high, including connectors
300 m side-connector dimensions	148 mm diameter × 187 mm high; 174 mm wide including connector
300 m weight in air / water	3.7 / 0.7 kg
1,000 m weight in air / water	5.5 / 2.9 kg
4,000 m weight in air / water	7.1 / 4.1 kg
Operating temperature	300 m: −5 to 40 °C 1,000 m and 4,000 m: −5 to 50 °C
Storage temperature	−25 to 55 °C

Performance figures related to distance are CEP50. Angular specifications are 1DRMS. ADCP operation is optional. Actual navigation performance depends on installation, external aiding, sound velocity, seabed conditions and vehicle dynamics.

SPRINT-Nav U

SPRINT-Nav U is the most compact member of the SPRINT-Nav family, developed for small robotic platforms and towfish with restricted space, weight and power capacity.

Despite its small dimensions, the unit combines a fibre-optic-gyro inertial navigator, 500 kHz DVL, AHRS and pressure sensor within a single 1,000 m-rated titanium housing.

It is intended for small ROVs, AUVs, towfish and similar platforms that require georeferenced survey or inspection data but cannot accommodate a conventional multi-instrument navigation package.

SPRINT-Nav U measures 126 mm high and 114 mm in body diameter, increasing to 118 mm at the DVL endcap, and weighs 2.25 kg in air.

Detailed Overview

SPRINT-Nav U applies the same hybrid acoustic-inertial principles used throughout the wider SPRINT-Nav family in a smaller package.

The integrated 500 kHz DVL provides seabed-relative velocity and altitude measurements. These are combined with the fibre-optic gyro, accelerometers and pressure sensor to produce continuous navigation and control information.

The fibre-optic gyro is true-north seeking and does not rely on a magnetic compass. This allows the unit to operate near steel structures, vehicle frames and other ferrous equipment without magnetic-heading interference.

Intended Applications

– Observation-class ROV guidance
– Small AUV navigation
– Compact towfish positioning
– Geophysical survey from small robotic platforms
– Pipeline, cable and asset inspection
– UXO survey
– Manned submersibles
– Diver navigation boards
– Compact USV payload navigation

Compact Vehicle Installation

The system can be mounted from the upper face or around the DVL end of the housing. Its compact form reduces the space and integration burden associated with installing separate inertial, DVL and pressure instruments.

A water-blocked penetrator cable protects the vehicle and instrument from water migration through a damaged cable.

Navigation Output

SPRINT-Nav U can provide position, heading, roll, pitch, velocity, depth and altitude information at output rates up to 200 Hz.

Direct DVL and pressure outputs are also available alongside the processed INS outputs, allowing the vehicle integrator to use the underlying sensor data where required.

Configuration

A browser-based user interface provides configuration, status and diagnostic information. The common SPRINT-Nav API assists integration with vehicle-control and mission-management systems.

System Features

– Ultra-compact integrated INS, DVL, AHRS and pressure sensor
– Fibre-optic-gyro technology
– True-north-seeking heading
– Unaffected by proximity to ferrous objects
– 500 kHz DVL
– 0.3–100 m bottom-track altitude range
– Typical DVL-aided survey performance of 0.1% of distance travelled
– Alignment possible within five minutes with DVL bottom lock
– Navigation and vehicle-control outputs up to 200 Hz
– Direct DVL and pressure output available
– Factory calibrated
– 1,000 m depth-rated titanium housing
– Water-blocked cable
– 32 GB internal data storage
– Ethernet and RS-232 communications
– Web-based configuration interface
– Vehicle-integration API common to the SPRINT-Nav family
– Ability to disable internal data logging
– Optimised for low size, weight and power consumption
– Not controlled under ITAR

Technical Specifications

Specification	SPRINT-Nav U
Typical DVL-aided survey performance	0.1% of distance travelled
DVL-aided distance from origin	0.45%
DVL operating altitude	0.3–100 m
USBL and DVL precision improvement	Up to 4×
Heading with GNSS or USBL and DVL	0.15° secant latitude
Heading with GNSS, USBL or DVL	0.2° secant latitude
Roll and pitch	0.02°
Static unaided AHRS heading	0.8° secant latitude when correctly configured for latitude
Angular-rate range	±450°/s
Velocity precision	Below 1.0 cm/s at vehicle speeds below 2 m/s and 50 m altitude
Depth accuracy	0.01% full scale
DVL frequency	500 kHz
Power requirement	24 VDC ±10%, 8 W nominal
Internal storage	32 GB
Serial interface	One RS-232 port available on the cable; not available through the SubConn MCIL8F connector
Other interfaces	Ethernet, UDP/TCP, WebUI, one trigger input/output, NTP and ZDA output
Housing construction	Titanium
Body dimensions	114 mm diameter × 126 mm high, excluding penetrator
DVL-endcap diameter	118 mm
Weight in air / water	2.25 / 1.04 kg
Depth rating	1,000 m
Operating temperature	−5 to 40 °C
Storage temperature	−25 to 60 °C

Distance-related performance is specified as CEP50 and angular performance as RMS. Published navigation figures assume suitable installation, accurate sound velocity and appropriate external aiding where applicable.

SPRINT-Nav DP

SPRINT-Nav DP is an independent position-reference sensor for dynamically positioned surface vessels operating in shallow water.

The system combines inertial sensors, a 375 kHz high-altitude DVL and a pressure sensor in one housing. It measures vessel movement relative to the seabed and can continue providing position information independently of GNSS.

SPRINT-Nav DP is intended to provide resilience and redundancy for DP operations without requiring acoustic transponders or other targets to be installed on the seabed.

Its principal applications include offshore construction, wind-turbine installation, operations affected by GNSS interference or scintillation, and vessel station keeping near structures.

Detailed Overview

SPRINT-Nav DP is initialised using the vessel’s GNSS position. Once initialised, the dynamic-positioning operator can disable GNSS aiding and place the system into an independent operating mode.

In this mode, the instrument calculates vessel position using its internal inertial sensors, seabed-relative DVL velocity and pressure data. The resulting position and quality information can be sent to the DP system using standard GNSS-style telegrams.

This provides a position-reference source that is independent of the vessel’s primary GNSS systems and is suitable for use as part of the redundancy arrangements for DP2 and DP3 operations.

Target-Free Shallow-Water Operation

SPRINT-Nav DP does not require seabed transponders, reflectors or other deployed targets. This can reduce mobilisation time and eliminate the need to recover equipment from the seabed after the operation.

The 375 kHz DVL has a published operating-altitude range of 0.4–200 m, making the system primarily suited to shallow-water DP operations where the seabed remains within DVL range.

Beam-Level DVL Aiding

The navigation engine uses individual DVL beam measurements rather than relying only on a final DVL velocity solution.

This allows the system to continue operating when one beam is obstructed, damaged or unable to track the seabed, subject to the remaining beam geometry and operating conditions.

Current Profiling

The integrated acoustic system can also operate as an ADCP, providing water-current velocity and direction over a published profiling range of up to 120 m.

This information can assist the DP operator when assessing current conditions during deployment, recovery and station-keeping operations.

Vessel Integration

SPRINT-Nav DP can connect to the vessel network or directly to an interface unit on the bridge. An optional 1U rack-mounted interface is available.

An internal battery maintains navigation for approximately five minutes during a short external power interruption, reducing the risk of needing to reinitialise the inertial system.

System Features

– Independent dynamic-positioning position reference
– Positioning independent of continuous GNSS
– No seabed transponders or deployed targets required
– Integrated INS, 375 kHz DVL and pressure sensor
– 0.4–200 m published DVL operating-altitude range
– Suitable for shallow-water DP operations
– Can support DP2 and DP3 redundancy arrangements
– Standard GNSS-style position and quality telegrams
– Less than 2 m published station-keeping drift over 24 hours
– Beam-level DVL aiding
– Continued operation possible with an unavailable DVL beam
– Integrated ADCP current profiling to 120 m
– Up to seven-fold GNSS precision improvement when aided
– Ten-minute initialisation
– Factory calibrated internally
– Remote diagnostics and performance verification
– Internal data logging for quality control and support
– Approximately five-minute internal battery backup
– Fully water-blocked DVL endcap
– Optional 1U rack-mounted vessel interface
– Not controlled under ITAR

Technical Specifications

Specification	SPRINT-Nav DP
DVL-aided station keeping	Less than 2 m over 24 hours
DVL-aided straight-line performance	0.12% of distance travelled
DVL-aided dynamic-movement performance	0.04% of distance travelled
Unaided short-term drift	1.2 m in 60 seconds
DVL operating altitude	0.4–200 m
GNSS-aided precision improvement	Up to 7×
INS/AHRS heading	0.05° secant latitude, 1DRMS
Roll and pitch	0.01°, 1DRMS
DVL frequency	375 kHz
ADCP profiling range	0.4–120 m
ADCP along-beam velocity range	Up to ±8.4 m/s
ADCP velocity RMS	±0.4% of measured value
Maximum ADCP cells	255
Maximum ping rate	4 Hz in ADCP mode or 20 Hz in DVL mode
Power requirement	24 VDC ±10%; 18 W nominal and 30 W maximum with DVL operating and battery fully charged
Internal battery backup	Lithium-ion; approximately five minutes
Internal storage	More than one week of data logging
Communications	One RS-422 port, WebUI, TCP and UDP
Timing connections	Two trigger inputs for GNSS PPS signals
Housing construction	Titanium
Dimensions	225 mm diameter × 346 mm high, excluding deployment-pole mount
Estimated weight in air / water	23.9 / 13.1 kg
Depth rating	100 m
Operating temperature	−5 to 50 °C
Storage temperature	−25 to 55 °C
Published compliance	EN 60945 when used with the General Communications Hub; EN 61000 without the hub; CE only

Distance-related performance figures are CEP50. Actual performance depends on water depth, seabed tracking, vessel movement, installation, sound velocity, DVL geometry and environmental conditions.

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