Optical Sensor News

When will the first fully digitized, autonomous and environmentally friendly ship be ready to sail? The answer is uncertain but the Danish Maritime Authority’s ShippingLab project aims to have most of the technical and managerial challenges solved in as little as two years from now. Tom Mulligan reports.Denmark’s ShippingLab project is a three-year initiative that commenced its work in March 2019 with the aim of developing the first fully commercially operational, fully digital, autonomous and environmentally friendly ship.

Research scientist and entrepreneur Sverre Dokken believes laser-based remote sensing has big potential in the maritime domain. But what is LADAR, who’s it for and what are the key benefits?“Our mission is to be the world leader in innovative maritime sensor products that enhance the safety and security of shipping and all manner of offshore activity,” says Ladar Ltd (LDR) principal Sverre Dokken.In the sensor vanguardEssentially a laser-based navigational aid, LADAR (Laser Detection and Ranging) combines long-distance object detection with high-accuracy measurement…

Downhole sensing technology specialist, Well-SENSE, has launched a miniature optical pressure-temperature gauge, as part of its FiberLine Intervention (FLI) system.The Well-SENSE optical gauge widens the well surveillance application envelope for FLI, both on and offshore, and offers operators a low-cost and disposable alternative to both permanent downhole sensors and more traditional electronic logging devices.Combined with FLI’s other features and benefits, including a simple deployment mechanism and distributed sensing, it can deliver savings in the region of 50-90% compared to conventional logging methods.The fiber Bragg grating based device is a robust optical gauge with no electronics, batteries, external connections or power supply required.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) announced that its group company MOL Consolidation Service (MCS) has successfully completed the trial transport of containers equipped with a remote container tracking management device on railway routes connecting China and Europe.This device, by mounting inside the container, makes it possible to monitor cargo in transport using various equipment such as GPS, a temperature gauge, and an optical sensor.Customers, using this device, can track the location and route of the cargo in real time using GPS, monitor vibration, temperature, and humidity inside container during transport and monitor unauthorized opening…

L-3 KEO announced  it has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract option from the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for nine MK 20 Electro-Optical Sensor Systems (EOSSs). L-3 KEO will build and test the systems, as well as perform engineering services activities, over the course of the next two years in its Northampton, Mass. facility. This is the final contract option from a sole-source NAVSEA contract that was awarded to L-3 KEO in 2011 and raises the total number of MK 20 EOSSs ordered to 61. The MK 20 EOSS is an integral part of both the MK 34 and MK 48 Gun Weapon Systems (GWSs) and provides highly accurate, three-dimensional…

A new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report describes how advanced optical sensor technology is being used in the Mississippi River basin to accurately track the nitrate pulse to the Gulf of Mexico. Excessive springtime nitrate runoff from agricultural land and other sources in the Mississippi drainage flows into the Mississippi River and downstream to the Gulf of Mexico. This excess nitrate contributes to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone, an area with low oxygen known commonly as the "dead zone." NOAA-supported researchers reported that the summer 2014 dead zone covered about 5…

The Cameroonian Navy (CN) has taken delivery of two new 24m ARESA 2400 CPV Defender and one new 23m ARESA 2300 LD Craft to patrol and secure it’s coast. Cameroon’s Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Jean Mendoua, commissioned the 23m Aresa 2300 landing craft and two 24m Aresa 2400 CPV Defender patrol boats at the Cameroon Navy Base in Douala on November 21. The commissioning also included a presentation meeting as well as a tour of the boats while moored at the Naval Base. The Spanish shipbuilding group has worked extensively with Cameroon…

The Cameroonian Navy (CN) has taken delivery of two new 24 meter ARESA 2400 CPV Defender and one new 23 meter ARESA 2300 LD Craft to help the force safeguard their maritime domains. Cameroon’s Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Jean Mendoua, commissioned the 23 meter Aresa 2300 landing craft and two 24 meter Aresa 2400 CPV Defender patrol boats at the Cameroon Navy Base in Douala on November 21. The commissioning also included a presentation meeting as well as a tour of the boats while moored at the Naval Base.

Lockheed Martin recently completed successful demonstrations of its Gyrocam 15-inch Dual Sensor & 15-inch Triple Sensor to the Navy. The demonstration was conducted as part of a cooperative research and development effort with the Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program. That program was established to help accelerate the delivery of innovative maritime technologies across all armed services. During the demonstration in Virginia Beach, Va., U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) sailors used the 15-inch gyro-stabilized optical sensors in both day and night exercises. After successfully tracking items of interest and acquiring on-the-move, high-resolution electro-optical and thermal video, end-users provided immediate feedback on the technology.

Raytheon Anschütz has developed an innovative system solution for OPV’s, smaller Naval and Coast Guard vessels. At Euronaval, the Synapsis Command Bridge is launched as a combination of commercial-off-the-shelf navigation with Command & Control capabilities to a new, homogeneous bridge system. The Synapsis Command Bridge aims to provide a solution that not only includes the Synapsis Integrated Navigation capabilities but also transfers enhanced Command & Control (C2) capabilities from the Raytheon Anschütz’ SmartBlue surveillance system to a new sea-based application.

ABB LV Products releases new generation of its proprietary Arc Guard System, providing enhanced arc flash protection. The ABB Low Voltage Products division has released TVOC-2, a new generation of its proprietary Arc Guard System that has been protecting electrical equipment from dangerous electrical arc flashes for over 35 years. TVOC-2 features numerous upgrades and new functions to provide superior arch flash protection, detecting faults in low and medium voltage switchgear and disconnecting the power provided to the arc within 30 to 50 milliseconds…

As compact stabilized optics and pointing systems gain in popularity on land vehicles, aircraft, and vessels, engineers have had difficulty finding ultra-compact gyros that offer the performance and long-term reliability required for smaller and lighter applications. KVH Industries’ (Nasdaq: KVHI) new DSP-1500, a miniature, lightweight addition to its line of fiber optic gyros (FOGs), is designed to meet these requirements affordably. With a single continuous length of optical fiber wound into a housing only 1.5 inches in diameter…