Next-Generation Electronics for UK Bathymetric Sonar
The Innovation Exchange programme is supporting a bathymetric sonar manufacturer, to identify innovators capable of developing a modern replacement for a critical electronics assembly used within its GeoSwath interferometric bathymetric sonar systems. The challenge is to create a next-generation acquisition and signal-processing platform using currently available and supportable technology, while maintaining or improving the performance of the existing sonar system.
Opportunity
Challenge opens
07/10/2026
Challenge closes
06/11/2026
Benefit
The Challenge Holder is seeking an innovation partner to develop a next-generation high-speed data-acquisition and signal-processing electronics platform for its GeoSwath bathymetric sonar systems. The current electronics include critical components that are now obsolete and can no longer be sourced, preventing continued manufacture of new systems. The successful solution will enable the challenge holder to restore production while creating a modern, supportable and manufacturable electronics architecture capable of improving existing sonar performance and providing a foundation for future product development. The selected solution provider will have access to the challenge holders experienced sonar engineering team, existing GeoSwath hardware and software, in-house acoustic test facilities and opportunities for representative at-sea trials. Subject to successful development and validation, there is the potential for adoption across the GeoSwath product family and for a longer-term commercial relationship with challenge holder.
Background
The challenge holder is a UK-based marine technology company with 48 years' experience in sonar systems.
Its GeoSwath product family provides simultaneous bathymetry and side-scan sonar data, producing detailed three-dimensional information about seabed depth and shape together with imagery of features and objects on the seabed.
The technology is particularly effective in shallow-water applications. The current GeoSwath platform provides a 240° field of view, seabed coverage of up to 12 times water depth and simultaneous bathymetric and side-scan acquisition. It is available with 125, 250 and 500 kHz transducers.
GeoSwath has applications including:
- hydrographic surveying;
- rapid environmental assessment;
- seabed mapping;
- dredging surveys;
- infrastructure inspection; and
- autonomous and uncrewed survey operations.
A dedicated GeoSwath USV configuration is already available for installation on uncrewed surface vessels and can undertake coastal, offshore and hard-to-reach surveys.
At the heart of the system is specialist electronics responsible for acquiring and processing multiple phase-sensitive acoustic channels. Precise timing, synchronisation and signal processing allow the system to determine the angle and range of acoustic returns and consequently calculate seabed depth.
The principal electronics architecture was developed more than 15 years ago. A number of critical electronic components have subsequently become obsolete and are no longer commercially available.
As a result, manufacture of new systems has been suspended pending development of replacement electronics.
The underlying acoustic technology, transducers, software and system capability remain relevant. The challenge is therefore to modernise the electronics without unnecessarily redesigning the entire sonar system.
This creates an opportunity not simply to reproduce an older PCB, but to take advantage of substantial advances in electronic hardware and signal-processing technology over the intervening period.