02 September 2025

SPH Engineering has announced the release of the MBES system for UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) utilizing Cerulean Surveyor 240-16, a compact multibeam echosounder (MBES). Available immediately, the payload expands the capabilities of drone-based bathymetric and hydrographic surveys by delivering dense, high-resolution bathymetric data over shallow waters.

The Surveyor 240-16 operates at 240 kHz with a measurement range of 0.5–50 m, making it suitable for inland waterways, reservoirs, ports, and environmental monitoring sites. Unlike traditional single-beam payloads, the MBES generates a swath up to 80-degree cross-track, with a 16-element receive array and angular resolution down to 1 degree, enabling operators to map a wide bottom coverage per flight line.

Integration with UAV Workflows

The new payload is designed to work seamlessly with SPH Engineering’s UgCS flight planning software and SkyHub onboard computer, allowing extremely precise and automated missions. With a total weight of 2.4 kg (all components in air) and a power consumption of only 15 W, the Surveyor 240-16 is compatible with UAVs such as DJI M300/M350/M400 and Inspired Flight IF800/IF1200.

Field Validation at Titutga Lake

In August 2025, SPH Engineering conducted a measurement campaign at Titutga Lake (Latvia) using the MBES payload. Flights were performed at an average survey speed of 1.2 m/s, a benchmark found to balance data density with UAV endurance. The MBES provided a step-change in efficiency by capturing high resolution bottom details.

The system’s performance was also benchmarked against single-beam payloads, which remain valuable as QC tools for MBES datasets. The combined approach demonstrated how drone-based hydrography can achieve both high-resolution mapping and robust validation in environments previously inaccessible or unsafe for boat-based systems.

Technical Differentiators

• Frequency: 240 kHz
• Measurement Range: 5 – 50 m
• Beam Geometry: 4° along-track TX; 7° cross-track RX (conventional beamforming)
• Angular Resolution: 1° (angle-of-arrival processing)
• Range Resolution: 5% of range setting
• Power Consumption: 15 W
• Integrated Sensors: Tilt/roll, temperature
• Weight: 8 kg (sensor and mounting only), 2.4 kg (all components)
• Software Compatibility: Fully supported in BeamworX, with Hydromagic integration planned

Expert Commentary

Cerulean Surveyor 240-16 

"The payload based on Cerulean Surveyor 240-16 represents a milestone in drone-based bathymetry," said Alexey Dobrovolskiy, CEO of SPH Engineering. "By combining multibeam technology with UAV platforms, we are enabling hydrographers to collect dense bathymetric datasets at a fraction of the time and cost of conventional systems. This integration opens new opportunities for surveying reservoirs, lakes, and coastal areas that were previously inaccessible or unsafe."

About SPH Engineering

SPH Engineering is an expert in drone technology development, providing UAV software solutions, integration services, and custom development to advance drone applications for surveying, data collection and processing, and entertainment. Founded in 2013 in Latvia, SPH Engineering has a global customer and partner network in over 150 countries.

Webinar on Bathymetry Using MBES

Surveyor 240-16 MBES in Action