Next-generation trawl monitoring solutions will require a software defined architecture that supports multiple signalling protocols, is interoperable with competitor products, and provides flexible, reconfigurable functions – all while operating on fixed hardware, according to Marport.
To maximise this opportunity, Marport recently announced its Software Defined Acoustics Platform. The company claims to be the first in the marine industry to develop and deploy software-defined acoustics technology for commercial fishing applications.
Software-defined technology enables a single hardware platform to handle various acoustic sensor functions – the device’s software is simply reconfigured to change its function. Instead of using dedicated hardware, the desired function’s signal processing, filtering, encoding and modulation are performed in software on high-speed reprogrammable devices such as field programmable field arrays, digital signal or general purpose processors.
Marport expects that its software defined acoustics platform will provide superior performance products with significantly lower costs than its competitors.
Marport’s first product to use software defined technology is the Multi-Sensor Acoustic Processor. The Processor eliminates over 20 different product circuit boards while supporting an even wider variety of sensor functions. Marport plans to use it as the foundation for over 30 new trawl sensors planned for release during 2007.
Marport’s Multi-Sensor Acoustic Processor is the only processor in the industry to include Active Power Measurement which transmits the sensor’s real-world power consumption as well as remaining battery life to the operator. Other key advantages include:
• World class performance: Compatibility and effective networking with third party products
• Efficient use of existing investment: No need to replace existing sensors for interoperability
• Unmatched flexibility: Sensors can be programmed for varying functional and user needs
• Software upgradeable: Upgrades or new functions provided via software updates
• Reduced logistics support: A single sensor platform can serve as a spare
• Cost effective: Software defined architecture and reliable performance lower operating costs
