Uncrewed Systems Technology 044 l Xer Technolgies X12 and X8 l Lidar sensors l Stan UGV l USVs insight l AUVSI Xponential 2022 l Cobra Aero A99H l Accession Class USV l Connectors I Oceanology International 2022

74 OxTS was on hand to discuss its xNAV650, one of its newer INSs for survey and mapping applications. It is a MEMS-based system weighing 130 g, measuring 77 x 63 x 24 mm, and consuming 4 W working on power inputs of 5-30 V, with 8 g of accelerometer measurement range and a 480 º /second range on its gyroscopes. “It also provides major benefits for survey and mapping professionals when coupled with OxTS’ Lidar geo-referencing software, OxTS Georeferencer,” said Geoff Besbrode. “The software takes the inertial measurements from the xNAV650 and combines them with raw Lidar data from Velodyne, Hesai, Ouster and Livox sensors, among others. Once combined, the data can be used to create highly accurate 3D point clouds. “The xNAV650 outputs 2 cm positioning accuracy, with improved performance after post-processing, and 1-2 º for heading, pitch and roll. It is this accuracy that enables us to create the high-quality point clouds you can see on our website.” OxTS Georeferencer also includes a boresight calibration option. Boresight calibration can be a real headache for people integrating Lidar data with INS measurements, because without really precise calibration of both systems’ coordinate frames – which is almost impossible to achieve by eye – the final results will be subject to blurring, double vision and other problems. “Our boresight calibration software can achieve calibration to a tenth of a degree by using data gathered during a quick calibration exercise that involves surveying some special reflective targets,” Besbrode added. “That means there is effectively no chance of any of those problems afterwards.” Omnetics was displaying its extensive range of connector options, with a particular highlight on its nano-miniature solutions, which have been designed to enable as much performance and robustness as possible in as minimised a form factor as the company’s designers could produce. “We very much tried to take the attributes of existing connector types such as 38999 circular connectors and D-Subs, and integrate them into a connector form factor one-quarter of the size without jeopardising any of the ruggedness,” said Derek Hunt. “We have given designers the ability to use the larger traditional contact types to serve as power lines, while running smaller contact types – 26/30 AWG – in parallel for signal or high-speed digital transmission within some of our hybrid offerings. “We’ve done the same with our range of Nano-D rectangular connectors. Innovations like altering our standard shell types to carry 3 A per contact instead of 1 A within a similar form factor have been key to us allowing designers to remove unnecessary size and weight from their interconnection systems.” Omnetics’ Nano 360 Circular connectors are available in plastic or metal housings, and both its Nano circular and rectangular lines are offered with a range of latching and mounting configurations, as well as meeting Mil- DTL-3213 standardisation. Although it had been officially unveiled at Oceanology International 2022 just a month beforehand, the new Hugin Edge AUV from Kongsberg Maritime was also being promoted at AUVSI Xponential. “The Hugin Edge has been in development for a year or so, and it’ll probably be another year or so until it’s available for delivery,” said Arnt-Helge Olsen. “It’s designed to be optimised for shallow waters, down to 1000 m maximum depths. “Our various other platforms were certainly capable of that, but being able to dive down to 3000, 4500 and 6000 m, they were far in excess of the prices and running costs that many new users in littoral operations could afford. And there are plenty of new micro-AUVs optimised for 100-300 m, so 1000 m seemed a sensible target to engineer for.” The Hugin Edge is capable of 24 hours of operation between battery charges, as well as autonomous deployment and retrieval using the LARS previously discussed by Bjorn Gjelstad in UST 32 (June/July 2020) and a special latching system designed on the front, near the nose. June/July 2022 | Uncrewed Systems Technology OxTS point cloud generated through its xNAV650 and Georeferencer Omnetics’ Nano Circular connector