The seaMux provides a highly compact underwater multiplexer designed for use with a wide range of subsea sensors, including imaging and profiling sonars, altimeters, depth, and AHRS sensors.
In addition to Impact Subsea sensors, it facilitates the connection of third-party serial or Ethernet-based devices.
The seaMux is a highly compact, titanium-housed subsea multiplexer designed for demanding underwater environments with a depth rating of 6,000 meters.
It features four communication ports, each of which support Ethernet, RS232 or RS485 interfaces. that allow for multiple sensor connection options, with the ability to enable or disable each port directly through the Unity Topside Control System.
For increased versatility, the system supports daisy-chaining of additional seaMux units and allows for the connection of multiple Impact Subsea RS485 serial sensors to a single port using y-splice cables.
Data is efficiently transmitted to the topside via Ethernet or over a screened twisted pair using VDSL communications, facilitating the integration of both Impact Subsea sensors and third-party serial or Ethernet-based devices.
Alternatively a software development kit is available for third party integration and interface development.
Impact Subsea’s sensor suite, paired with the seaMux Subsea Multiplexer and the Unity Topside Control System, provides a powerful, integrated solution for Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) operations.
For ROV integration, the seaMux acts as the essential subsea hub, allowing multiple sensors, such as sonars, profilers, altimeters, depth sensors and AHRS, to be connected through a single, titanium-housed unit.
By utilising the seaMux, ROV operators can significantly simplify cabling requirements, as the system transmits all sensor data to the surface via a single Ethernet or VDSL connection.
At the surface, the Unity Topside Control System acts as the central interface, providing a streamlined 19″ rack-mountable system that manages sensor operation and data logging through the seaView software and facilitates the output of data to external survey systems.
This seamless combination of subsea and topside hardware enables efficient sensor networking, reduced topside footprint and reliable operation across both shallow and deep-water ROV missions.
The seaMux Subsea Multiplexer is particularly well-suited for AUV applications due to its small form factor and compact design.
By utilising the seaMux, AUV developers can consolidate connections for various instruments, including sonars, profilers, altimeters, depth and AHRS sensors, into a single, robust, titanium-housed unit.
This simplifies the internal architecture of the vehicle, as the seaMux can manage multiple RS485 serial sensors on each port using y-splice cables or allow for the daisy-chaining of additional seaMux units to expand the sensor array as required.
For long-duration AUV deployments, energy management is a critical factor for mission success and the seaMux facilitates energy optimisation through several specific power-handling capabilities.
The seaMux features software-controllable power output on its sensor ports.
Operators can enable or disable individual ports through the Software Development Kit, which allows non-essential sensors to be powered down when they are not in use to conserve battery life.
Additionally, the Software Development Kit provides access to the current draw of each port, enabling precise tracking of sensor energy consumption during a mission.
By dynamically managing which sensors are active at specific phases of a mission, operators can extend the operational range and endurance of the AUV.
Additionally, the system’s depth rating of over 6,000 meters ensures that it remains suitable for even the most demanding deep-water AUV missions.
The integration of Impact Subsea technology into a survey suite creates a high-performance, unified data environment.
By combining the seaMux Subsea Multiplexer and the Unity Topside Control System, survey teams can achieve seamless, efficient sensor networking.
Within a survey suite, the seaMux acts as a robust subsea hub. It facilitates the connection of an array of instruments including sonars, profilers, altimeters, and depth or AHRS sensors, alongside third-party serial or Ethernet-based devices.
This reduces complexity by consolidating these connections into a single, titanium-housed unit, which then transmits all aggregated data to the surface via a high-bandwidth Ethernet or VDSL connection.
At the topside, the Unity Control System serves as the primary survey integration point.
This integrated approach allows survey professionals to maintain full control over their sensor suite, ensuring that all data, from precision navigation to acoustic imaging, is efficiently captured, managed, and output to the survey station.
seaMux and Unity can also be used with a combination of Impact Subsea and third part sensors. Alternatively, seaMux and Unity can operate with only third party sensors.
The system facilitates port bridging. This allows serial or ethernet data input to any of the ports on seaMux to be bridged to a port on Unity. This can be a physical port on the back of Unity, or it can be via a Serial Over Lan (SOL) connection which is created and managed by Unity. This enables one or two way communications from subsea to surface for each port on seaMux.
The ability to work with third party serial (RS232 or RS485) or Ethernet underwater sensors or devices enables a highly compact method of integrating multiple sensors together.
In terms of power, Ports 2, 3 & 4 are rated to 20W each (0.834A @ 24VDC). This is sufficient for any Impact Subsea sensors. Port 1 is rated to 30W (1.25A @ 30W) which is useful for connecting third party sensors with a higher power requirement.
