The Tow panel, serves a dual purpose. By default, it will display the present basic towing-related property settings of the ScanFish / ViperFish:
• Horizontal flap slider action
• Set Parking Depth
• Set Fixed Depth
• Set Follow Seabed
• Set Bottom Margin
• Set Minimum Altimeter Depth
• Set Seabed Approx
• Set Undulate Up Rate
• Set Undulate Down Rate
• Set Max Depth
• Set Min Depth
• Set Min Height
These settings can be changed during flight by clicking the relevant properties field. As a result, the selected field will increase in size, and Plus (+) and Minus (-) buttons that facilitate alteration of the values will appear. The user can also mark the number and manually type in a new. Once the value has been changed and the user clicks elsewhere, the settings will be applied.
Property | Description | Recommended setting |
Horizontal flap slider action | Slider to change the 3D flap angle. Positive values will bring the ScanFish / ViperFish to port side, while negative values bring the ScanFish / ViperFish to starboard. | During line turns the values should be neutral |
Set Parking Depth | The depth in metres below the water surface that the ScanFish / ViperFish will go to when in Parking mode | The parking depth should be less than the overall depth in the area of sailing. The ScanFish / ViperFish is more stable when parked deeper than the vessel propwash |
Set Fixed Depth | The depth in metres below the water surface that the ScanFish / ViperFish will go to when in Fixed depth mode | Is identical to Parking mode, and may for an example be used as a ‘pitstop’ when going down to deep water between Parking and Follow Seabed |
Set Follow Seabed | Defines a fixed altitude the ScanFish / ViperFish should attempt to stay at above the seabed when in Follow Seabed mode. |
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Set Bottom Margin | The minimum height in metres above the seabed that the ScanFish / ViperFish must stay above. This is a safety setting, and if the ScanFish / ViperFish should ever find itself closer to the seabed than the defined height limit, it will automatically rise. | The defined setting should take into consideration the features of the seabed – that is, a smaller distance can be used for a seabed with smaller variations and/or fewer obstructions. If in Follow Seabed mode, the value should be >1m lower than Set Follow Seabed value. |
Set Minimum Altimeter Depth | The minimum depth in metres below the water surface for when the altimeter will be used. This is useful if the surface water has a lot of turbulence. |
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Set Seabed Approx | The ScanFish / ViperFish is assuming the seabed is rising with this rate (m/s) in case bad altimeter readings are received for default 5 seconds |
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Set Undulate Down Rate | The descend speed in metres per second at which the undulation is performed. | Note that a steep descent will generate very high drag, and that the ScanFish / ViperFish can pull with a force of up to 10 kN if ordered to climb vertically. |
Set Undulate Up Rate | The ascend speed in metres per second at which the undulation is performed. | Note that a steep ascent will generate very high drag, and that the ScanFish / ViperFish can pull with a force of up to 10 kN if ordered to climb vertically. |
Set Max Depth | The maximum depth in metres below the water surface that the ScanFish / ViperFish will descend to when in Undulate mode (lower limit). | The defined setting should take the cable length on the winch into consideration |
Set Min Depth | The minimum depth in metres below the water surface that the ScanFish / ViperFish will ascend to when in Undulate mode (upper limit). |
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Set Min Height | Defines a minimum altitude to the seabed the ScanFish / ViperFish should keep when in Undulation mode. This is a safety feature when undulating in areas with topography. | This value needs to at least 1m greater than the Set Bottom Margin value. |
Overview of what flight modes each configurable node in the Tow panel affects
