New Remotely Operated Hydrographic Survey Boat
Z-Boat 1250 (Photo: Teledyne Oceanscience)
Teledyne Oceanscience has introduced a new remotely operated hydrographic survey boat suited for inland waters such as streams, rivers and lakes.
The new trimaran style Z-Boat 1250 is “sturdy enough for tough terrain but light enough to be one person portable,” according to Teledyne. The vehicle has a lightweight hull manufactured from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, and is IP67 rated, which makes it well suited to survey in most water conditions. The vehicle weighs in at less than 50 pounds, including all instrumentation. A collapsible sliding crossbar makes the Z-Boat 1250 easily transported by a single operator.
The vehicle’s integrated single beam echosounder has an embedded transceiver with digital signal processing and outputs depth & temperature using NMEA 0183 data output.
The “exceptionally rugged” Z-Boat 1250 design features a propulsion system that uses two thrusters (one in each outrigger) and an advanced 2.4 GHz remote control transmitter that differentially adjusts the two thrusters to steer the boat – no rudder or steering linkages. The Z-Boat 1250 can attain a 2.3 m/s (7.5 fps) top speed using the standard battery pack, and the remote control transmitter can be adjusted to allow effective profiling at speeds as low as 30 cm/s (1.0 fps).
According to Teledyne Oceanscience Sales Manager, Shannon Searing, “The new Z-Boat 1250’s lightweight design, IP67 rating and modest price point make the boat ideal for a multitude of work environments and budgets.”
Applications include mining pits and tailing ponds, environmentally sensitive areas, construction and inspection zones, dams and reservoirs, harbors, rivers and more, Teledyne said.
Z-Boat 1250
Typical Cruising Speed*: 1-1.5 m/s (3.3-5.0 fps)
Top Speed*: 2.3 m/sec (7.5 ft/sec)
Hull Length: 127 cm (50”)
Width (extended): 94 cm (37”)
Width (transport): 64 cm (25”)
Height (no instrument): 32 cm (12.5”)
Weight (no instrument): 18 kg (40 lbs)
Weight (typical instrument): 22 kg (48 lbs)
Battery Endurance*: 1.0 m/s: ~4 hours; 1.5 m/s: >1 hour
Payload (typical): 4.5 kg (10 lbs)
Power: 3 @ 24 V, 4.5 AH NiMH Battery Packs
Motor: 2 x Brushless DC Thrusters
Hull Material: ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
Hardware: Anodized Aluminum, Stainless Steel
R/C Control: Hitec
R/C Control: Modes 3: Left Throttle/Right Steer; Right Throttle/Left Steer; Dual Throttle
R/C Antenna: Omni Directional
R/C Range: 750 m
R/C RF Scheme: FHSS
R/C Frequency: 2.4 GHz
Warranty: One year on all Z-Boat 1250 components.
(*Speeds measured over water; speed over ground will depend on water velocity)
Single Beam Echosounder
Depth Reading Range: 0.4m to 200m
Depth Resolution: 0.01m Depth Precision: 0.25% at full range
Frequency: 200 kHz
Beam Angle: 9°
Temperature Sensor Accuracy: +/-0.05° C Temperature Resolution: 0.09° C
Supply Voltage: 9 VDC to 40 VDC
Average Current Draw: 150mA @ 13.6V
NMEA0183 Baud Rate: Configurable, default 115,200
Power Management Module
Inputs: 2 - GPS & Echosounder, or ADCP
Communications: Bluetooth ~300m range
Battery: 14.4V, 4.5Ah
Endurance: 10-12 hours
February 2024
