FOCUS-2

The FOCUS-2 is the latest generation ROTV in the FOCUS and TRIAXUS family and will replace the existing FOCUS models. The vehicle is constructed using carbon fibre and is based on the successful TRIAXUS vehicle design. The FOCUS-2 uses state of the art computer technology and fibre optic telemetry for vehicle and sensor communication providing high data capacity in a very small package.

A powerful industrial PC controls the vehicle, based on inputs from the onboard vehicle control sensors according to the pre-programmed flight path. The vehicle is towed by a small diameter low drag electro-optic cable that supplies the power and control data to the vehicle. The high volume of data, generated by the on board instrumentation and sensors, is transmitted to the surface via a NEXUS based fibre optic multiplexer system. The FOCUS-2 can operate with a number of acoustic survey sensors and instruments simultaneously ensuring maximum usage of ship time.

The system is comprised of the towed platform together with a user selected instrumentation package; an electro-optic tow cable and a winch with a combined fibre optic & electrical slip ring and a user friendly control and display unit with input and output for user selected sensors and instruments.

The system operates to 400 metres depth at 5 knots with a controllable horizontal movement of +/- 80 metres. The cable layback ratio is a function of tow speed i.e. 1:5 @ 5 knots & 1:3 @ 3 knots.