Omniscan 450 FS – Forward‑Looking Imaging Sonar
The Omniscan 450 FS is purpose‑built for forward‑looking ROV applications, delivering exceptional situational awareness in low‑visibility environments. The transducer and electronics are integrated into a single, compact enclosure with a combined Ethernet and power interface. Two enclosure variants are available, rated for 100 m or 300 m operating depth.
Intuitive Operator Control
Unlike traditional imaging sonars that rely on slow mechanical scanning, the Omniscan 450 FS puts image generation directly under pilot control. Rather than waiting for a scanner to sweep an area, the sonar builds images dynamically as the ROV moves.
Using Cerulean’s SonarView software, sonar data is “painted” in real time, allowing pilots to immediately focus on areas of interest and adapt their scan strategy on the fly. The result is fast, intuitive operation and excellent situational awareness, even in the most turbid conditions.
Performance
The Omniscan 450 FS provides a forward range of up to 120 m, enabling reliable target detection regardless of water clarity. Its 50° vertical beam height ensures visibility of both distant objects and nearby features, even when operating well above the seabed.
Designed to support confident navigation and target approach, the Omniscan 450 FS is particularly effective for wreck hunting, obstacle avoidance, and general navigation. It reveals details that many imaging sonars miss and delivers image quality that rivals—or exceeds—forward‑looking multibeam sonars costing up to 10× more.
Doppler Mode
For ROVs without DVL‑based motion data, Omniscan Doppler Position Tracking provides translational movement information along the sonar beam direction. By using two Omniscan 450 FS units—one forward‑facing and one mounted 90° to the side—full 2D motion tracking can be achieved. With appropriate system integration, this also enables position‑hold functionality.
What’s in the Box
Omniscan 450 FS with Ethernet + power wiring cable
Blue Robotics RJ45 to JST‑GH adapter
Omniscan 450 FS Forward‑Scan Sonar
From €2,380 (excl. VAT)
The Omniscan 450 FS is a compact, high‑performance forward‑scan sonar designed for real‑time obstacle detection, navigation safety, and situational awareness. Operating at 450 kHz, it delivers clear acoustic imagery ahead of the vehicle, making it ideal for USVs, ROVs, and autonomous survey platforms operating in confined or shallow environments.
The system is available in 100 m and 300 m depth‑rated versions, allowing it to scale from inland waterways to coastal and offshore applications.
Forward‑looking sonar for real‑time hazard detection
Operating frequency: 450 kHz for sharp image clarity
Wide field of view for confident navigation
Low latency output for live piloting and autonomy systems
Designed for Navigation & Collision Avoidance
Unlike side‑scan sonar, the Omniscan 450 FS looks ahead of the vehicle, making it especially valuable for:
Obstacle avoidance
Docking and launch/recovery operations
Navigation in turbid or zero‑visibility water
Autonomous mission safety
It provides pilots and autonomy software with immediate awareness of submerged objects, terrain, and structures in the vehicle’s path.
| Specification | 450 Compact | 450 FS 100m | 450 FS 300m | 450 SS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency (nominal) | 450 kHz | 450 kHz | 450 kHz | 450 kHz |
| Range Resolution | up to 1/1200th of range | up to 1/1200th of range | up to 1/1200th of range | up to 1/1200th of range |
| Maximum Ping Rate | 20 Hz | 20 Hz | 20 Hz | 20 Hz |
| Power | 10-30V, 10 watts max (pinging) | 10-30V, 10 watts max (pinging) | 10-30V, 10 watts max (pinging) | 10-30V, 10 watts max (pinging) |
| Data Interface | 100BaseT Ethernet | 100BaseT Ethernet | 100BaseT Ethernet | 100BaseT Ethernet |
| Internal Ethernet Switch | Yes | No | No | No |
| Internal Electronics | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Electrical Connection | single cable w/4 pin JST for Ethernet data + 1 wire pair for power. Options for the 3 ports including Blue Trail bulkhead connector(s). | single cable w/4 pin JST for Ethernet data + 1 wire pair for power | single cable w/4 pin JST for Ethernet data + 1 wire pair for power | PCB assembly has 3 position transducer interface, 4 pin JST for Ethernet interface, 2 pin JST for power. |
| Maximum Range | 100m | 120m | 120m | 150m |
| Beam Width | 1.1 deg | 0.8 deg | 0.8 deg | 0.5 deg |
| Beam Height | 50 deg | 50 deg | 50 deg | 50 deg |
| Vertical Beam Angle | 10 deg downward | 0 deg | 0 deg | 0 deg |
| Weight in Air | 934g | 440g | 825g | 180g (transducer only) |
| Weight in Water | 400g | -60g (buoyant) | 325g | -10g (transducer only) |
| Max Operating Depth | 300m | 100m | 300m | 300m |
SonarView Software Integration
The Omniscan 450 FS is fully supported by SonarView, Cerulean Sonar’s powerful visualization and logging software.
With SonarView, users can:
View live forward‑scan imagery
Replay and analyze recorded sonar data
Combine sonar data with GPS and heading (if available)
Integrate sonar output into autonomous navigation workflows
This makes the 450 FS suitable for both manual piloting and autonomous operations.
Featured Products
The Omniscan 450 SS is a traditional side‑scan sonar featuring a separate transducer and PCBA. It delivers a tall, very narrow fan beam, providing excellent along‑track resolution and long‑range performance. The Omniscan 450 SS is available in both the standard and BlueBoat form factors.
Description
The Omniscan 450 SS offers an extended operating range of up to 150 m and a 0.5° beam width, delivering high along‑track resolution. Cross‑track resolution is user‑configurable, down to 1/1200th of the selected range, allowing fine control over image detail.
SonarView can generate a classic side‑scan “waterfall” display when no navigation data is available. When GPS position and heading are provided by the vehicle, SonarView can instead build a fully georeferenced mosaic, accurately compensating for both translational and rotational motion. If the seabed return from Omniscan is sufficient—or if an external depth input is supplied—SonarView can also produce a 3D, depth‑compensated view, assuming a flat seabed surface.
SonarView Scan
SonarView screen capture showing a 3D visualization of sonar data being “painted” onto the seafloor. This is not a simulation, but a replay of an actual Omniscan log file.
Integration & Installation
Omniscan 450 SS mounted on a Blue Robotics BlueBoat
IMPORTANT:
When used with the BlueBoat, the BR‑102295 “Cerulean Omniscan 450 SS Integration Kit” from Blue Robotics is required. This kit includes the necessary hull‑mounting brackets.
Side‑Scan Operation
The Omniscan 450 SS transducer is rated for operation down to 300 m depth. For conventional side‑scan applications covering both port and starboard simultaneously, two Omniscan 450 SS units can be combined within SonarView and operated as a single, integrated system.
The electronics module must be installed inside the vehicle’s watertight enclosure.
Upgrade Your Omniscan to Real‑Time 3D Imaging
Convert your existing Omniscan into a real‑time 3D sonar with the Omniscan 3D Upgrade Kit. Compatible with Omniscan 450 SS, SS‑BB (BlueBoat), Omniscan FS, and Omniscan Compact, it delivers advanced 3D perception without replacing your current system.
Operating at 450 kHz with a 16‑channel receive array, the Omniscan 3D generates dense 3D point clouds in real time, bridging the gap between side‑scan sonar and multibeam systems.
Designed for inspection, mapping, and navigation, the upgrade enables clear understanding of complex underwater environments—even in low or zero visibility. Scanning is driven by vehicle motion and processed in real time using Cerulean’s SonarView software, providing intuitive control and immediate spatial awareness.
Key benefits
Real‑time 3D point‑cloud imaging
Detailed volumetric imaging in challenging visibility
Improved object detection and situational awareness
Easy integration with ROV and AUV platforms
The Omniscan 3D Upgrade Kit integrates via a compact, Ethernet‑based interface and is available with native BlueOS support, or for advanced integrators on a compatible Linux host.
Omniscan 450 Compact – Compact Imaging Sonar
The Omniscan 450 Compact is a new addition to the Omniscan family, introduced in a compact packaging format designed to support most small ROV platforms. This widely compatible form factor significantly simplifies mechanical integration, making it ideal for space‑constrained vehicles.
Compact Design & Connectivity
The Omniscan 450 Compact includes an internal Ethernet switch and features three external ports, allowing up to two additional Ethernet devices to be daisy‑chained while using only a single Ethernet connection to the vehicle. This reduces cabling complexity and conserves valuable vehicle interfaces.
Alternatively, one of the external ports can be used to integrate pressure and/or temperature sensors. An additional enhancement is an externally visible status LED, providing power indication and supporting diagnostic functions.
Omniscan & SonarView
All Omniscan variants (FS, SS, and Compact) use a fixed, narrow, tall fan‑beam geometry. Working in combination with SonarView, Omniscan mosaics returns from thousands of individual beam echoes, converting vehicle motion into a detailed sonar image.
As the ROV or surface vessel moves, SonarView continuously “paints” the seabed image, delivering excellent situational awareness—even in extremely turbid conditions. On surface vessels with GPS or ROVs equipped with DVL, image generation accounts for both translational and rotational motion.
Doppler Motion Tracking
For underwater vehicles without external positioning data, Omniscan’s patent‑pending Doppler Motion Tracking provides translational motion information along the beam direction. By using two Omniscan 450 FS units—one forward‑facing and one mounted 90° to the side—full 2D motion tracking becomes possible. With suitable vehicle integration, this also enables position‑hold capability.
Operator‑Controlled Scanning
When mounted on an ROV, the Omniscan 450 Compact places scanning directly under pilot control. The operator can focus instantly on areas of interest, rather than waiting for a mechanical scanning sonar to sweep to a desired sector.
Using “Heading Up” mode in SonarView, manual scanning becomes intuitive and responsive, resulting in faster interpretation and superior situational awareness during operations.
What’s in the Box
Standard configuration
Omniscan 450 Compact with Ethernet and power leads
Two unused ports fitted with blank penetrators
Optional
1–3 bulkhead connectors