What is RoxAnn GroundMaster?
RoxAnn is an electronic hardware system which acts as a 'black box' taking as its input the received signals from an internal echosounder and its transducer, processing these and outputting digital data to a computer.
How many Component Parts are there?
RoxAnn has one main pelicase which contains the echosounder and RoxAnn processor.
How is it connected?
RoxAnn has three cables.
- Power Input can be AC or DC
- Transducer cable which is a two-core individually screened cable which connects to the transducer
- RS232 from RoxAnn to computer
What Frequency?
50 kHz or 200 kHz.
What is the difference in operation between frequencies?
At low frequency (50 kHz) the advantage is range of operation - up to 200m. The advantage of high frequency 200kHz is greater resolution in depths from round 2m to 50m.
Are RoxAnn results different at different frequencies?
Yes, but only in certain soft materials. This is because at high frequency, there is little penetration of the seabed surface, so for example mud on rock would only be seen as mud. At low frequency, the bottom penetration would reach the rock and the reflected returns would be influenced by the rock, thus allowing differentiation between mud and mud on rock.
What echosounder is used?
Typically RoxAnn uses a Furuno Fishing echosounder, chosen for its stablility and ease of use.
Is the Power Supply for RoxAnn important?
Standard ships supply is normally good enough. However care must be taken when fitting to noisy supplies or those prone to excessive voltage levels.
What does RoxAnn Output?
From the RS232 port RoxAnn outputs an ASCII data string comprising depth, first echo and second echo.
What Controls does RoxAnn have?
There are 2 switches on the RoxAnn Groundmaster, which are used at installation but not during operation.
How long does it take to install?
Depending on the vessel from 2 hours to 1 day.
Is specialised equipment required?
No.
What skills are required?
The ability to use a soldering iron and perhaps a little carpentry!
At Installation is there a calibration required?
Yes - This is because every echosounder, transducer and installation is different and RoxAnn must be set-up to take account of these differences. In effect, calibration is achieved by taking the vessel to open water and pressing the 'calibration' switch on the rear panel of the RoxAnn.
How often do I have to calibrate?
Once.
After Calibration are the results lost when power is removed?
Battery pack up provides calibration for around 12 monthsIn the interim period, calibration may be 'locked in'. This is done by following a simple procedure with no specialist tools - only a screwdriver and multimeter.
After Installation, how do I know RoxAnn is working?
Two 'Leds' on the front panel provide 'at a glance Q.C' of the system. If they are equally bright, then RoxAnn is operating well.
What does the computer do?
The computer which receives the output from RoxAnn, runs the software which collects, saves, displays and processes results from RoxAnn.
What are these results?
Depth, first echo (E1), second echo (E2).
What is E1?
E1 is a digital indicator of seabed roughness. The lower the value the smoother the material, the higher the value the rougher the material.
What is E2?
E2 is a digital indicator of seabed hardness. The lower the number, the softer the material; the higher the number, the harder the material.
Where are E1 and E2 derived?
E1 is derived from the first (main) echo from the echosounder transmission. E2 is derived from the second (first multiple) echo.
Why is RoxAnn unique?
The technique for deriving roughness and hardness from E1 and E2 is patented on a world-wide basis, following invention of RoxAnn in 1980.
Does RoxAnn have pitch and roll stability?
Yes, but not in the usual manner of using a pitch and roll sensor compensation. One of the printed circuit boards in RoxAnn is the Gimbal PCB. This provides for levelling of non-vertical transmission pulse, thus allowing RoxAnn to output at varying sea-states.
What types of Materials have been identified by RoxAnn?
This is by no means a complete list of what RoxAnn has
been able to identify on the seabed - our users keep
surprising us!:
Algae's, Burnt Oil Residue, Clay Non-Cohesive, Coal,
Coarse Sand, Cohesive Clay, Corals, Crabs, Crayfish,
Debris, Drilling Cuttings, Drilling Fluids, Eel Grass,
Fine-Sand, Gravel, Gravel/Clay Substrate, Lobsters,
Molluscs, Mud, Mussels, Oil Residue, Patch Reef, Pipelines,
Rock, Flat Rock, Rough Rock, Bed Rock, Scallops, Sea
Urchins, Seagrass-dying, dead, mature, new growth, Searmarl,
Seaweed, Silt, Starfish, Trees & Logs (Underwater),
Weathered Rock, Weed Densities, Weed on Rock, Wrecks.
What industries use RoxAnn?
So far RoxAnn has been used for:
Biological Monitoring, Crayfish, Debris Clearance, Defence, Diamond Hunting, Dredging Environmental Control, Fisheries Research, Fishing, Ground Fisheries, Hydrographic, Lobster Fisheries, Mine Counter Measures, Mapping, Mineral Resource, Monitoring, Oil Industry, Oil Spill Response, Pelagic Fisheries, Pipeline Route Surveys, Prawn Fisheries, Shell Fisheries, Surveys, Wreck Hunting.
