Case Study: Ultrabeam Hydrographic achieves reliable amphibious survey navigation with Advanced Navigation Spatial FOG Dual

Spatial FOG Dual Helps Ultrabeam’s Axolotl Amphibious Hydrographic Survey Craft Stay on Course Both on Land and in Water

Ultrabeam Hydrographic, a UK hydrographic survey company, needed a reliable navigation solution for its amphibious Axolotl survey craft built for the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s “Map the Gap” challenge. The vehicle had to collect accurate above- and below-water survey data while operating without GNSS, making dead-reckoning heading accuracy and sensor integration critical. Advanced Navigation’s Spatial FOG Dual INS was selected to support this demanding autonomous mission.

Advanced Navigation’s Spatial FOG Dual improved dead-reckoning heading performance from about 30–60 seconds with a MEMS-based solution to nearly 15 minutes, helping Ultrabeam Hydrographic maintain course on land and in water. The compact, rugged INS also integrated into Ultrabeam’s mission control software and AI stack, and the Axolotl went on to deliver single-pass 3D surveys for commercial bridge and waterway projects, improving efficiency, data coherency, and safety.

Ultrabeam Hydrographic

Gabriel Walton

Technical Director