Device for determining depth: the principle of operation and scope

Determination of depth is one of the most important tasks for modern sea vessels. Putting the right course on the water has always been a challenge. It is necessary not only to bring a sea ship to the port, it is necessary to bypass the reefs and undercurrents. The ships used to often run aground because of a misplaced course.

Thanks to the development of electronics, modern vessels have on board a device for determining the depth. This device periodically scans the seabed and with great accuracy shows the number of meters under the keel of the ship. Sensitive equipment reacts instantly to any change in the relief of the underwater soil and, if necessary, provides a danger signal. The depth gauge is used by research vessels for new routes or other work on the seabed. It is also used in river navigation. Such a device is necessary wherever it is required to measure the depth.

Such instruments were called "echo sounder", filling the former meaning of the word "lot" with additional meaning. The principle of the device is simple enough: it emits acoustic waves in the direction of the seabed and catches the reflected signal. After that, the trigger is triggered and the pulse counter is started . When a sound wave is reflected from the seabed and comes back, a threshold device is activated that stops the countdown. Everything, the information is collected, it remains only to convert the number of pulses into understandable visual information on the monitor screen. As you can see, the device for determining the depth is very simple, it allocates a temporary difference between the main and reflected signal and converts it into data that is understandable to us.

The sounder is very useful for those who are fond of fishing. With its help you can find secluded places where marine people like to hide. A homemade depth gauge is able to locate large fish schools, providing invaluable assistance to fishermen.

Of course, modern electronic echo sounders are much more complicated. The main problem in the design of such devices, which faced the designers, is the difficulty in isolating the useful signal, increasing the sensitivity of the device and the depth of the measurements. In order to get rid of interference and to determine with sufficient accuracy the depths of the ocean, simultaneous measurements with different range and amplitude of acoustic waves are used.

A special place among instruments for studying the seabed is occupied by underwater metal detectors. All military vessels are equipped with such devices. The treasure hunters and seabed researchers actively use this device in their work.

In addition to underwater, there are also deep metal detectors, which are designed to work on land. Such devices have proven themselves in excavations or other works related to the detection of metal objects.