Coda Octopus Products

Coda GeoSurvey Data Acquisition

Our initial focus was the development of systems for use in geophysical services. This entails the visualization and analysis of the seabed which is performed in two forms: sidescan using a towfish which generates sonar signals allowing imaging of the seabed itself, highlighting different surface types, textures and objects, and shallow seismic which uses low frequency sonar to penetrate through the seabed generating data depicting the below seabed structure. This developed into the Coda GeoSurvey system which acquires both types of data, allowing digital storage of the data and further analysis within the software. This system was launched in 1995 and remains one of our core products. The system operates on both Windows and Linux operating systems and is usually supplied on ruggedized PC type hardware, and is designed to interface with most popular third-party sonar systems. Since developing the initial software, we have implemented a number of additional software modules to allow analysis of the data in a variety of ways. Today, Coda GeoSurvey is widely used throughout the world by commercial survey organizations and research institutes. Specific products include: the DA 2000, for simultaneous acquisition of sidescan and shallow seismic data, the DA 1000, for acquisition of either sidescan or shallow seismic data, and the DA 500, a portable version of the DA 1000.

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Coda GeoSurvey Productivity Suite

The GeoSurvey Productivity Suite is a software product enabling acquired sidescan and seismic data to be processed, cleaned, analyzed and interpreted for inclusion in reports and charts. GeoSurvey Productivity Suite comprises an integrated suite of software modules for different tasks according to the needs of the user and can be run on the same hardware as GeoSurvey Acquisition or on a standard PC or laptop. The end products are typically a cleaned image depicting the seabed and its surface features or its underlying layers and features, together with information such as co-ordinates, annotations and interpretations, for integration into geographical information systems (“GIS”).

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Coda Echoscope®

The Echoscope® is a unique sonar device which embodies a patented invention for a method of producing a 3D Sonar Image that permits real time, three-dimensional viewing, imaging and data recording of underwater scenes and objects. The 3D aspect enables the high resolution visualization to be performed from multiple perspectives. It is able to detect moving as well as fixed objects, and unlike optical sensors can detect and image objects in zero visibility water. Unlike conventional 2D sonars that generate narrow beams or fan shaped beams, the Echoscope® uses advanced beam forming techniques to generate over 16,000 individual beams to create instantaneous high resolution 3D images. The Echoscope® is compact, measuring about the size of an average briefcase, thus enabling it to be used from small vessels. It is suitable for over-the-side or bow mounting on vessels of any size or on remotely operated underwater vehicles (“ROV”) and autonomous underwater vehicles (“AUV”).

The Echoscope® has a very wide range of applications including:

• inspection of harbor walls;


• inspection of ship hulls;


• inspection of bridge pilings;


• ROV navigation (obstacle avoidance);


• AUV navigation and target recognition (obstacle avoidance);


• construction - pipeline touchdown placement and inspection;


• obstacle avoidance navigation;


• bathymetry (measurement of water depth to create 3D terrain models);


• monitoring underwater construction;


• underwater intruder detection;


• dredging and rock dumping;


• contraband detection;


• locating and identifying objects undersea, including mines.

Considerable interest in the Echoscope® has been shown by the United States Coast Guard, NAVSEA, the Office for Naval Research (ONR), the US Office for Naval Intelligence (ONI), the US Department of Homeland Security and various other military agencies.

We have delivered 26 of these systems to customers since its introduction. In addition, a number of these devices are on long term rental in places like the Gulf of Mexico. Among the first purchasers have been United States naval agencies, the United States Coast Guard, research institutions and a construction company in Japan.

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Coda Underwater Inspection System (UIS)™

The Coda Underwater Inspection System or UIS™ is the world’s first, and we believe only, fully integrated high resolution real-time 3D inspection system. It delivers precise and intuitive 3D images in real-time, and is designed to inspect large areas with 100% coverage and 98% probability of detection.

At the heart of every UIS™ is the unique Echoscope® real-time 3D sonar incorporating our cutting edge phased array technology to simultaneously generate over 16,000 beams. This results in an instant three dimensional sonar image where the position of every data point is accurately known, producing detailed images from a single sonar ping.

To ensure accurate positioning the Echoscope® is integrated with the Octopus F180® in the UIS™, giving series precision attitude and positioning. This provides absolute positioning at accuracies of up to 10cm (4”), with heading better than 0.05°. High accuracy is the key to ensuring that all data is correctly geo-referenced, enabling real time mosaicing as well as quick relocation of areas of interest from previous inspections.

As part of a small boat package, the UIS™ includes a ruggedized digital video camera or optional night vision camera to provide a separate and immediately obvious above water reference. For remotely operated vehicle (ROV) installations, the latest laser scaling camera provides an accurate visual cross reference.

Depending on the application and platform, the UIS™ can be combined with a wide range of additional sensors and other sonars to create a fully integrated bespoke package. Centered around the unique and powerful Echoscope® 3D sonar, the integrated UIS™ solution offers significant advantages and superior performance over systems using 2D sonar, sector scan sonar, acoustic lens sonars or underwater video cameras alone.

In July 2007, we received a $2.59 million order from the U.S. Department of Defense to build and deliver over a period of six months three next generation prototype UIS™ for the US Coast Guard and other potential users, to enable rapid underwater searches in the nation’s ports and waterways. The contract includes additional options, exercisable at the sole discretion of the U.S. Department of Defense. If exercised, these options would require us to make enhancements to the existing systems and deliver a further seven UIS™ systems within six months from the time the option is exercised.

The contract was awarded to us on a sole source basis, which means that the product is considered to be available from one source only and under Federal rules may be acquired from that source without a competitive bidding process.

The systems were delivered over the period October to December 2007, with final sign-off of the order received towards the end of December 2007. Under the terms of the agreement, we provided, among other things, operator training and a one year guarantee for each system supplied. The agreement also grants to the purchaser a non-exclusive, non-transferable, irrevocable, paid-up license to practise or have practised for or on behalf of the United States any invention conceived in the performance of the agreement throughout the world. On February 19, 2008, a contract amendment was awarded to us. The total value of the contract amendment is $1,527,149. In addition, a further order was made (and completed) for additional development work of $100,000.

On February 6, 2009, a further order was made for $1,152,948 for Automated Change Detection. Under the option provisions further options may be exercised by the US Coast Guard under the contract for up to $2,851,750.

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Octopus F180® Precision Attitude & Positioning System

The Octopus F180® integrates GPS with aerospace motioning sensing devices (gyroscopes and accelerometers) to provide high-accuracy measurements of geographical position and motion in the most dynamic environment at sea, and includes position, heading, heave, pitch and roll as its primary outputs. The primary application is to compensate for the effects of motion on single beam and multibeam echosounders where it is critical to know where the instruments are pointing when depth soundings are being taken in order to ensure accuracy of depth and position.

Developed originally for motor sport (measuring vehicle motion and position) the F180™ is manufactured under license pursuant to which CodaOctopus has exclusive rights to the products so developed. Since its launch in August 2003, the F180® has become a popular and well regarded sensor with a growing number of customers in the commercial marine survey industry around the world, because of its simplicity of operation and accuracy at a relatively low cost. Modifications and enhancements have resulted in a simple-to-use product that brings highly accurate positioning and motion data into extreme offshore conditions for precision marine survey applications. Variants within the F180™ series include the F190, exclusively configured for use ‘inland’, eg. within ports and harbors, and the F185, with enhanced precision positioning to 1cm accuracy. Also available is Octopus iHeave, a software product for dealing with long period ocean swell compensation, fully integrated with the F180® series.

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Octopus 760 Series Geophysical Acquisition System

The 760 series is a range of geophysical data acquisition systems for sidescan sonar and shallow seismic profiling. In common with the Coda GeoSurvey product line, the Octopus 760 integrates with third party sonars and sensors to acquire, display and record data. However, it is designed to be simple to operate and requires minimal training. The 760 series is a self contained instrument rather than software and a PC. There are four variants of the 760 series - the 760D which combines simultaneous acquisition of sidescan sonar and sub-bottom profiler; the 760S which provides ‘either/or’ sidescan sonar and sub-bottom profiler data acquisition; the 460+ for sidescan only; and the 360+ for shallow seismic only. There is also a variant of the 760 series, the 460P, which is re-packaged into a splash-proof hand-portable carry-case for operation in the most demanding of environments such as in small open boats. Combined with compact dual-frequency sidescan sonar and an optional battery pack, the 460P is also available as a complete portable sidescan sonar system and has been supplied to the British Royal Navy amongst other naval and commercial customers.

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Octopus 361/461 Analysis Software

The 361/461 Analysis Software is a low-cost, reduced capability alternative to the Coda GeoSurvey Productivity suite, providing an entry level product for less demanding sidescan sonar and sub-bottom profiler users.

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Octopus® Thermal Printers

In June 2004, the Company acquired a thermal printer product line from Ultra Electronics plc, which we rebranded under the “Octopus®” brand name. Octopus® printers are used to produce high quality grayscale continuous images onto thermal paper or film and are ideal for producing hard copy output of geophysical data and other continuous data. They are widely used in the geophysical survey industry in conjunction with other Coda® and Octopus® products, as well as in defense applications as part of surface ship and submarine detection systems.

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