$2,650.00

The Ping360 is a mechanical scanning sonar for navigation and imaging. It has a 50 meter (165 foot) range, 300 meter (984 foot) depth rating, and an open-source software interface that makes it a capable tool for ROV navigation and underwater acoustic imaging.

The Ping360 comes with everything needed for use on the BlueROV2

The Ping360 input voltage has been reduced to 11–18 V due to possible internal component damage at higher voltages. If you have questions about this please reach out to us here.

In stock

Quantity 1 - 2 3 - 7 8 - 14 15 - 24 25+
Price $2,650.00 $2,517.50 $2,385.00 $2,252.50 $2,120.00
SKU: BR-100399
HS Code: 9015.80.8080

Product Description

The Ping360 scanning sonar is a mechanical scanning imaging sonar. It’s designed primarily to be used on the BlueROV2 and other ROVs for navigation in low-visibility water conditions, but it’s also suited for applications such as inspection, obstacle avoidance, target location and tracking, autonomous systems development, and more!

When mounted on an ROV, the scanning sonar gives you a top-down view of the ROV’s surroundings. You can see echoes from objects like ropes, walls, dock pilings, rocks, shipwrecks, boats, fish, and any other structures or objects that reflect sound waves. With that, you have reference points to navigate from, regardless of water visibility, and you can locate important features in the water quickly. Here’s an example of a 120 degree sector scan showing a rope in front of the sonar:

What is a Scanning Sonar?

If you’re new to scanning sonars, here’s how it works: inside the Ping360 is an acoustic transducer that sends a narrow beam of acoustic energy into the water and then listens back for echoes. That transducer is mounted to a motor that rotates it in one degree increments and as it does this it generates a circular image of the sonar’s surroundings with a maximum range of 50 meters (165 feet). The result is similar to what you might see from a weather radar on the local news or a laser scanner on an autonomous robot. Here’s an example of a scan of dock pilings straight ahead of the BlueROV2:

User Interface

The Ping360 connects to the open source Ping-Viewer application for control and data display. Ping-Viewer runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and can connect to the Ping360 through a direct connection to the computer or through the onboard computer on the BlueROV2.

For those who wish to integrate the Ping360 scanning sonar into other systems and access the data directly, it communicates with a binary message format called the Ping-Protocol. We have C++, Arduino and Python libraries for the Ping-Protocol to get you up and running almost immediately.

Check out the Technical Details and Learn tabs above for more information!

Product Description

The Ping360 scanning sonar is a mechanical scanning imaging sonar. It’s designed primarily to be used on the BlueROV2 and other ROVs for navigation in low-visibility water conditions, but it’s also suited for applications such as inspection, obstacle avoidance, target location and tracking, autonomous systems development, and more!

When mounted on an ROV, the scanning sonar gives you a top-down view of the ROV’s surroundings. You can see echoes from objects like ropes, walls, dock pilings, rocks, shipwrecks, boats, fish, and any other structures or objects that reflect sound waves. With that, you have reference points to navigate from, regardless of water visibility, and you can locate important features in the water quickly. Here’s an example of a 120 degree sector scan showing a rope in front of the sonar:

What is a Scanning Sonar?

If you’re new to scanning sonars, here’s how it works: inside the Ping360 is an acoustic transducer that sends a narrow beam of acoustic energy into the water and then listens back for echoes. That transducer is mounted to a motor that rotates it in one degree increments and as it does this it generates a circular image of the sonar’s surroundings with a maximum range of 50 meters (165 feet). The result is similar to what you might see from a weather radar on the local news or a laser scanner on an autonomous robot. Here’s an example of a scan of dock pilings straight ahead of the BlueROV2:

User Interface

The Ping360 connects to the open source Ping-Viewer application for control and data display. Ping-Viewer runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and can connect to the Ping360 through a direct connection to the computer or through the onboard computer on the BlueROV2.

For those who wish to integrate the Ping360 scanning sonar into other systems and access the data directly, it communicates with a binary message format called the Ping-Protocol. We have C++, Arduino and Python libraries for the Ping-Protocol to get you up and running almost immediately.

Check out the Technical Details and Learn tabs above for more information!

Sonar

  • 1 x Ping360 scanning sonar with pre-installed cable and WetLink penetrator
  • 1 x Penetrator Nut
  • 1 x Penetrator O-ring

Mounting Hardware

  • 1 x Ping360 mounting bracket
  • 4 x M3x5 button head cap screws
  • 2 x M5x12 button head cap screws

Wiring

  • 1 x 4-pin JST-GH to 4-pin JST-GH adapter PCB
  • 1 x 4-pin JST-GH to USB-A adapter (for USB configuration)
  • 1 x 4-pin JST-GH to male header pin adapter (for RS-485 configuration)

Specifications

ParameterValue
Electrical
Supply Voltage11–18 V
Maximum Power Consumption5 W
Communication
Signal ProtocolsUSB, Ethernet (UDP), RS485
Message ProtocolPing Protocol
Message Subsetscommon, ping360
Code Library Implementations Python, C++, Arduino
Cable
Cable UsedBR-100614
Cable Length755 mm
Conductor Gauge28 AWG
Pinout
Power WiresBlackGround
RedVin
USB ConfigurationOrange-WhiteVsense
Green-WhiteD-
GreenD+
OrangeGND
Ethernet ConfigurationOrange-WhiteTX+
Green-WhiteRX+
GreenRX-
OrangeTX-
RS485 ConfigurationOrange-WhiteNot Used
Green-WhiteD-
GreenD+
OrangeGND
Installed Penetrators
Device SideWLP-M10-4.5MM-LC
Cable EndWLP-M10-4.5MM-LC
Acoustics
Frequency 750 kHz
Beamwidth - Horizontal
Beamwidth - Vertical25°
Minimum Range0.75 m2.5 ft
Maximum Range50 m165 ft
Range Resolution0.08% of range
Range Resolution at 50m4.1 cm1.61 in
Range Resolution at 2m1.6 mm0.06 in
Mechanical Resolution0.9°
Scanned SectorVariable up to 360°
Scan Speed at 2 m9 sec / 360° *
Scan Speed at 50 m35 sec / 360° *
Continous 360 degree scan?Yes
Mounting Angle Offset?Yes
Physical
Pressure Rating300 m984 ft
Temperature Range0-30°C32-86°F
Weight in Air (w/ cable)510 g18 oz
Weight in Water (w/ cable)175 g6.17 oz
Sonar Mounting Screw SizeM3x0.5 x 5 mm
Mounting Bracket Screw SizeM5x0.8 x 12 mm
Internals
Air Chamber O-RingAS568-142, Buna-N, 70A
PCB LED D1 (red)10 Hz flashing - bootloader
1 Hz flashing - on and active
Fast inconsistent flashing - communicating
PCB LED D2 (yellow)Ethernet connection detected
PCB LED D3 (green)Ethernet activity

2D Drawings

Ping360 Sonar

Ping360 Sonar Drawing

Ping360 Mount

Ping360 Mount Drawing

3D Models

PING360-SONAR-R2-PUBLIC (.zip)

PING360-M-FRAME-MOUNT-R1-PUBLIC (.zip)

Documents

Ping360 Firmware Files (GitHub)

Revision History

22 August 2024

  • Input voltage reduced from 11–25 V to 11–18 V

29 June 2023

  • PING360-SONAR-R2-RP SKU changed to BR-100399

27 April 2023

  • Bulkhead O-ring color changed to blue

15 February 2022

  • R2 - Initial release
  • Potted cable penetrators updated to WetLink Penetrators

17 September 2019

  • R1 - Initial release

Quick Start

1. Download Ping-Viewer for your operating system.

2. Connect the power wires, red wire to 11–18 VDC and black wire to ground.

Ensure the power wires are correctly installed (positive and negative) before the device is powered on. Ping360 does not have any reverse polarity protection and the Processor Board will be damaged if powered incorrectly.

3. Plug the JST-GH to JST-GH inline connection board into JST-GH connector coming from the Ping360.

4. Plug the JST-GH to USB-A cable into the other end of the JST-GH to JST-GH inline connection board.

5. Plug the JST-GH to USB cable (USB side) into a computer.

6. Start Ping-Viewer, select the Ping360 from the Device Manager list and the sonar display and scanning should automatically start.

Ping360 Start
If there are issues with establishing a connection, please check our Ping Viewer troubleshooting steps.

Guides

Ping-Viewer Wiki/Guide

Ping360 Installation Guide for the BlueROV2
Learn how to install the Ping360 on your BlueROV2.
Changing Communications Interface on the Ping360
Learn how to change the communications interfaces on the Ping360 for different applications.
Understanding and Using Scanning Sonars
Learn how to interpret scanning sonar imagery and how to use it on ROVs with this guide.

Protocol Format

Ping-Protocol

Sample Scan Data

20200206-135805947.bin

The minimum range is a consequence of the “ringing” of the transducer. The transducer is acting like a bell, and it takes some time for the transducer to stop making noise after the pulse is over. Any possible returns in that time would get masked by this ringing. Reducing the minimum range would require redesigning the sonar.

No - when operating in air the transmitted pulses are reflected back in by the walls of the transducer, so the sensor can operate but will not show meaningful readings.

If you're interested there's a more detailed explanation here.

Relevant Forum Categories

Ping Sonar Devices

Featured Forum Posts