There’s an interesting technology evolving in the incubator of Ambient Sound Investments - the investments vehicle of the Estonians who founded Skype. The company with the initial name InkSpinTwo is developing digital forward-looking sonar, that would make marine navigation safer and easier.

Arno Rannaste, the CEO of InkSpinTwo explains that the competitive edge ot this technology is that it enables realistic two-dimensional real-time images of what’s in front of the vessel underwater, even in high-speed conditions, where the speed of the vessel is up to 20 knots.

Most of other similar technologies work only in low-speed conditions (maxium 7-8 knots) and don’t create real-time images, but late updates instead. But that makes navigation in difficult waters much more hazardous for the Captain.

The Estonian sonar technology, cooked up by Estonian hydrography specialist Peeter Ude, has many competitors. For example Reson, Kongsberg, Thales, BlueView, EchoPilot etc. InkSpinTwo aims to knock on the doors of the operators of hydrograpic, diving, excavation and underwater guarding works. 

For those, who’d like to see how the sonar works, either watch the demo video below or  visit the exhibition “Ocean Business 2009″ taking place in Southampton, England at the end of March, beginning of April.

Estonians to make marine navigation easier and safer (DEMO) from Toivo Tänavsuu on Vimeo.